Rejuvenating Communities A Social Cohesion Approach Dr Elsie Laurence Chounoune Deputy Resident Representative UNDP, Jamaica

UNDP’s Strategic Areas of Focus UNDP’s Strategic Areas of Focus are under the categories of: Democratic Governance and Peace Building Sustainable Development and Climate and Disaster Resilience The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is one of the world’s largest multilateral development agency and is active in 177 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. UNDP’s sustainable development activities include policy development, thought leadership, fostering partnerships, strengthening institutional capabilities and building resilience. Our 2014-2017 strategic plan focuses on the three main development pillars : Democratic Governance and Peacebuilding, Sustainable Development, Climate and Disaster Resilience.

Democratic Governance and Peace Building Ongoing Projects Support to the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry Justice Undertaking for Social Transformation (JUST) Anti-Corruption HIV and the Law Projects Being Developed Building Social Cohesion in Communities Combatting Trafficking in Person (TIP) In Jamaica under our Democratic Governance and Peace Building Portfolio we have 4 ongoing projects These are; The Support to the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry which focuses on providing psychosocial support the victims of the 2010 Tivoli incursion; The JUST Project which is looking at critical reforms to the justice system to facilitate effective and timely judicial administration; The HIV and the Law project which supports the identification and reform of laws and policies hindering access to HIV treatment, care and support and the anti corruption project which in conjunction with the Administrator Generals' Office is supporting the local implementation of Jamaica‘s commitment to the UN Convention on Anti Corruption. There are also two other projects under development in this focus area The Trafficking in Persons Project which is supporting the Anti-Trafficking Task Force in the development of a Trafficking Database and The Rejuvenating Communities Project which will be looking at using social cohesion to drive community renewal in West Kingston

The Sustainable Development Goals UNDP and The SDG’s The Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals provide focus and direction at the global level on how countries should approach growth and development. There is a recognition however that each country faces specific challenges to achieving sustainable development, and there does exist special challenges in Caribbean countries like Jamaica who are not only Small Island Developing states but often Highly indebted middle income economies . High on the local development agenda in Jamaica is addressing issues related to crime, unemployment and access to critical services such as health and education. In exploring how to apply the principles enshrined in the SDG’s to approaching local development challenges new and innovative mechanisms and partnerships have to be explored.

Linking the SDG’s to Citizens Security and Safety The drivers of violence and insecurity are various and complex The drivers of violence and insecurity are various and complex, but often include: unaccountable security institutions and lack of rule of law, organized crime, corruption and a breakdown of governance, lack of opportunities for youth, population movement, socio-economic inequalities, and cultural issues. UNDP’s Strategic Plan, 2014-2017- emphasizes the need for creating sustainable development pathways where the organization “will assist programme countries to design and implement development pathways that can tackle the connected issues of poverty, inequality and exclusion while transforming productive capacities, avoiding the irreversible depletion of social and natural capital and lowering risks arising from shocks. "This approach adopted by the organization is multifaceted when seeking to address challenges arising in the area of work related to Citizens Security.

SDG’S and Citizens Security and Social Cohesion SDG Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable and SDG Goal 11. and Goal 16 are aligned to UNDP’s approach to addressing issues related to safety and security at the local level and UNDP will be working to support the country’s achievement of the SDG goals through initiatives like the Rejuvenating Communities Project.

SDG’S and Citizens Security and Social Cohesion Goal 16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Rejuvenating Communities Project UNDP Jamaica is working to entrench core principles of social cohesion. The complex challenges emanating from the changing nature of violence can no longer be met with separate sectoral interventions The Rejuvenating Communities: Social Cohesion Project currently under development is part of UNDP’s broader CSSC programmatic approach, a multisectoral approach being utilized to support the achievement of goals 11 and 16. The project focuses on “West Kingston Communities that have been affected by the events of May 23-24, 2010 and are currently covered by the mandate of the CoE.” The goal is to create a more cohesive society as the base for community transformation. A cohesive society works towards the well-being of all its members, fights exclusion and marginalisation, creates a sense of belonging, promotes trust, and offers its members the opportunity of upward mobility (http://www.oecd.org/site/devpgd2012/49067839.pdf)

Main Pillars of the Project Trust is established at the community level, between community and government institutions and among community institutions and political leadership. Efficient Delivery of Services to Meet the Unmet Needs of the Communities Youth Engaged in addressing social development challenges Under Pillar 1 Trust is established at the community level, between community and government institutions and among community, institutions and political leadership. This will be achieved by supporting the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Enquiry Under Pillar 2 Efficient Delivery of Services to Meet the Unmet Needs of the Communities While Pillar 3 speaks to Youth Engaged in addressing social development challenges

The Expected Results Ensuring that closure be brought to the May 2010 events, supported through strengthening the institutional framework to avoid recurrences of similar events. Allaying the mistrust between Jamaicans and commissions of enquiry by ensuring the recommendations of the current CoE are accepted and acted upon Addressing the entrenched socio-economic problems of inner-city communities. “Primary among them is the empowerment of the residents especially the most vulnerable, the youth – especially young males, to achieve their optimum potential while having the ability to contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030 goals As a result of our intervention we expect the following results 1)Closure is brought to the May 2010 incident through strengthening of the institutional framework to avoid any recurrence of a similar kind of event 2) The mistrust between Jamaicans in relation to how they feel about Commissions of Enquiry is changed. Whereby previous COE’s viewed as merely talk shops resulting in no real changes we will work to ensure that the recommendations from this one are accepted and implemented 3) The ‘problem’ of youth, particularly of ‘youth-at-risk’ is international. “Youth employment and engagement are concerns of all societies, especially so in more recent decades when, by virtue of the large proportions of the populations emerging as youth (14-24 years) and the obvious consequences of alienating or ignoring them. We need your support in guiding on on how best to engage with youth to ensure that they are able to achieve their maximum potential and contribute to nation building

Questions for you What other areas should be the key areas of focus in the Rejuvenating Communities Project ? How do we get young people energized about being the catalyst for change in their communities? What should we do that will make the most impact to the achievement of Goal 11 and Goal 16? Here are some questions for you?

UNDP Jamaica United Nations Development Programme 1-3 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica Email: registry@undp.org Phone: +1 876.978.2390-9 Fax: +1 876.946.2163 Website: www.jm.undp.org | www.undp.org Please join the discussion on our Facebook, Twitter or you tube pages, Pass by our booth and speak to our representatives. And also volunteer to be a part of the Caribbean HDR focus groups, we need you to guide us on how we can engage youth fully to ensure that the SDG’s are achieved and our communities rejuvenated making Jamaica the choice of place to live, work, raise families and do business.