Harvesting Water, Cultivating Hope The Power of Rainwater Harvesting Demonstrated, with Record Yields, Growing Profits & Teachable Moments - in Jamaica |Japan, UNDP Jamaica

Rainwater harvesting - a simple, time-proven method of Climate Change adaptation - is now being tested and observed by students and teachers of 70 training institutions across the nation. This is supported by Japan Caribbean Climate Change Partnership, funded by the people of Japan,  implemented by the UNDP, Jamaica and the Jamaica 4H Clubs, and in partnership with Climate Change Division in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. 

The centerpiece of this rainwater harvesting system, the tank, is being promoted by the project as a cost effective way of storing scare rainwater and as a powerful tool in mitigating the impacts of drought. Already, the water harvesting gift has made an additional 65 800 gallons of water available to participating institutions and select communities, project reports indicate. Participating training institutions include primary and high schools, Jamaica 4H Centres and correctional centres, many located in rural communities on the front line of Climate Change.

The project's climate resilience skills and equipment are welcome, as trends indicate local farmers must contend with worsening drought due to Climate Change: Average annual rainfall was below the 30-year mean for most parishes, and there were 20 more incidents of normal drought and 8 more incidences of severe drought than the previous year, Jamaica's Social and Economic Survey 2018 indicates.

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