Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica is set to benefit extensively in terms of climate and development financing as well improvement in technical capacity from its recent participation at the 30th Session of Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), which recently concluded in Belém, Brazil.

Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Matthew Samuda, who led Jamaica’s delegation made the announcement in a statement to Parliament , as he gave a report to the legislature on Jamaica’s participation the United Nations backed annual conference, disclosing that the outcomes of the meetings at COP30 “position Jamaica to access an additional financing mix of US$93.5 million outside of the GCF (Green Climate Fund, which is the largest global source or mechanism related to climate finance). Supporting technical expertise, strengthening the nation’s capacity to address climate change challenges and accelerate the implementation of its climate agenda.”

He mentioned the “Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), ”which has a total of US$250 million for current disbursement in its first instalment commencing December 15, 2025 with each country like Jamaica able to access between US$5 million-US$20 million with a maximum of two projects. Discussions were successful and concluded with the following expectations: 

1. An invitation extended to the FRLD Eeecutive director to visit Jamaica on a mission. 

2. Notification was given of Jamaica’s intent to submit two projects to FRLD, one for budgetary support to Government through programmes, and one to a direct access entity (either Jamaica Social Investment Fund or the Development Bank of Jamaica which are accredited under the GCF).

More climate funding opportunities

”These projects would be for the water and agriculture sector,” the minister explained, adding, “these meetings were highly successful with the FRLD signalling that Jamaica’s current circumstances after Hurricane Melissa that they would both schedule the requested working visit, and expedite Jamaica’s application with a view to unlock the maximum allocation of US$20 million from the fund.”

The Jamaican delegation met with the executive director of Climate Investment Funds (CIF), which also proved to be productive, where the main discussion centred on how climate investment funds could support Jamaica in its restoration and reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Melissa. 

Minister Samuda reported that some of the urgent needs identified were micro grids, power solution for water systems, solar powered generators, solar panels, and water storage while the CIF outlined a number of options for its rapid response windows such as clean technology for rapid solutions with the emphasis for Jamaica being on energy for the water sector. Some US$50 million has been made available by the CIF at deeply concessional rates, as a sub portion of Jamaica’s program with the World Bank. The Climate Minister highlighted that opportunities exist for Jamaica to obtain a portion of the funds, as grant based on the exceptional circumstances brought on by Hurricane Melissa.

He cited the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) project though previously complete in Jamaica, a request has been sent for an extraordinary allocation of US$20 million to Jamaica as grant funding. The intention is to complete the processes associated with this programme to allow for disbursement before the end of the calendar year. The implementing partner for this project is the IDB and is to be managed by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

GEF and CDRI funding prospects

The Jamaican delegation also met with Carlos Manuel Rodriquez, CEO and chair of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The discussions there centred on how the GEF can support Jamaica with its post-disaster relief with a special climate change fund of US$3 million to assist small scale farmers and the fisheries sector. This support, Samuda said is immediately available under an emergency request for relief grant funding. Jamaica is completing a submission expecting to access a further US$6 million within six-months. 

According to Samuda, “I have engaged my colleague minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and will form a project working group to finalise the submission ahead of the December 2025 board meeting. Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Madam Speaker, a meeting was held on November 19 between the Jamaican delegation and the CDB. The CDB has made available a relief grant of US$500,000 for a climate resilience project to support the emergency response in restoring agriculture in a climate-smart way.”

The Jamaican delegation also met with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which has technical support through mobilisation of disaster and engineering teams from India, Australia, Chile, and Japan with expertise in resilient infrastructure, where a proposal was made for a technical expert convening to facilitate the development of a reconstruction roadmap.

CDRI is primarily funded by the Indian Government and can submit an emergency housing project for relief on Jamaica’s behalf to the Indian Government once scoped and designed.