Monthly Report: January 2016 - USAID/JAMAICA COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND TRANSFORMATION PROJECT - PHASE II (COMET II)

Four new grants were awarded in Year 3, bringing the total number of grants to 20. The following applications are currently in the pre-award phase: Mighty Gully Youth Project Foundation Ltd., Enos Barrett Disabled Group, Good Hope Partners Benevolent Society, East Kingston Society/Link7teen Entertainment Events and Talent Management Agency, Knollis Community Benevolent Society, and Barrett Town Police Youth Club. The application for Enos Barrett Disabled Group is on hold pending company registration and participation in capacity building training. RFAs 25-27, Sustainable Livelihood Projects in Lilliput, Bogue, and Mount Carey, St. James, were reissued on January 7 with an application submission deadline of February 8. Non-competitive proposals were received from the Kintyre Citizen Association and Four Paths CDC Ltd. for the rehabilitation of buildings to house their CRCs and social enterprise projects. The grants team continued to monitor the implementation of current grants by conducting site visits, reviewing grantee reports, and providing ongoing capacity building. Capacity building training was provided to St. John's Heights Citizen Benevolent Society by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation. The Dispute Resolution Foundation conducted a five-day peer mediation training in St. James, and a one-day Rap Session with School Resource Officers and Deans of Discipline from Clarendon College. Paul Hibbert, President of Bull Bay Football Club, received final disbursement from Jhana Harris, COMET II Alternative Programs Coordinator. Strengthening Community-Based Organizations The Suncity Radio/JCF High School Disc Jock Competition was held on January 13, 2016, with the objective of promoting creative culture and expression among youngsters. The competition is a partnership between the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Community Safety and Security Branch, Suncity Radio, and the Ministry of Youth & Culture. A meeting was held on January 20, 2016, to follow up on the progress and status of the land for the Stony Hill CRC. The community has identified land adjacent to the primary school, and the principal will follow up to acquire permission through the Commissioner of Lands. Enhancing Community Capacity to Adapt to Global Climate Change January was spent planning for activities scheduled for the remainder of Year Three, including the extension to the gabion basket training in Gordon Town and rainwater harvesting installation and training in Rae Town in February. Drafting text for the joint Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP) with the Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (JaReeach) project was also completed. Routine support for the grants program, including facilitating the preparation of Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs) for the next site of CRCs in Linstead, Cambridge, and Kitson Town, was provided. Public Outreach and Culture of Lawfulness USAID COMET II Chief of Party Ian McKnight and the National Integrity Action (NIA) Executive Director Professor Trevor Munroe are working to coordinate the activities in this area for 2016. The objective is to establish a committee of Integrity Champions comprised of CSO and CBO leadership. USAID COMET II Citizens Journalists participated in a photo shoot to promote the work of the project.