Monthly Report: February 2015 - USAID/JAMAICA COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND TRANSFORMATION PROJECT - PHASE II (COMET II)

The project's support to community fairs and related events was a significant focus during this period. A contract modification with USAID was signed on February 13, 2015, resulting in the release of request for proposals (RFPs) for the development of social enterprises to be undertaken by Jamaican community-based organizations (CBOs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs). The RFPs for the creation of social enterprises and community resource centers (CRCs) were released on February 22, 2015. The University of the West Indies (UWI) and COMET II teams continued the rollout of the social enterprise model to the Forward Step and Linstead, Stony Hill, and Kitson Town communities as part of the first 7 of the 50 social enterprises to be developed by COMET II Project. The RFP released by COMET II for the creation of social enterprises will result in the creation of the remaining 43 social enterprises in Jamaica under this project contract. COMET II also explored options for CRCs in the form of existing buildings within the targeted communities. If these buildings are found to be suitable and capable of meeting all stakeholder expectations, upgrading of such facilities will be considered by COMET II, which may result in significant cost savings to the project. Permission-to-build has been obtained for the Gregory Park, Rockfort, and Four Paths sites. Community consultations have resulted in the approval of the proposed CRC designs, and building experts from the parish council have visited two of the five sites. Training for 20 youth in Electrical and Welding Certification Level 2 was completed in February, with graduation scheduled for March. Additional training continues for others in Welding Level 1 and Electrical Installation Level 1. The COMET II team also supported the Trench Town Annual Festival, engaging close to 300 youth and disseminating global climate change and culture of lawfulness information to over 500 community members. COMET II continued its assistance to the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) in its Communication and Public Outreach strategy. Plans were finalized for COMET II to assist in the development of a handbook that will be spearheaded by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Training support and training workshops have been identified in collaboration with the Component 4 Coordinator. In furtherance of Component 3, Alternative Programs for At-Risk Youth, COMET II conducted discussions on the provision of technical support to the Drug Treatment Court (DTC). COMET II has made significant progress in its support plan to the DTC program, with an MOU to be signed between the Ministry of Justice of Jamaica and USAID being drafted and reviewed. The project expects to release an RFA in March for a preferred service provider to support DTC participants. The COMET II grants program evaluated several grant applications resulting from RFAs 8, 9, 10, and 11. A total of eight organizations submitted proposals for the community-based school suspension program, with seven proposals currently being evaluated by the REC team. Technical and financial support was provided to the planning of the Safe Schools Peace Day Concert to be held on March 3, 2015. COMET II continued to provide assistance to the Police Youth Clubs (PYC) National Council to strengthen its governance framework. The project supported the National Leadership Seminar for executive members from all 14 parishes, with Tania Chambers, COMET II's Governance Specialist, conducting a presentation at this activity.