Mercy Corps has received a three-year, US$7.5-million grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme to support the expansion of the Caribbean Resilience Initiative (CRI) from Puerto Rico to Jamaica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia.

As the local implementing partner in Jamaica, Seprod Foundation, in collaboration with the Bull Bay Football Club, is excited to help operate Mercy Corps’ Resilience Hubs on the ground in Bull Bay, St Andrew, to reach more than three million people with access to lifesaving and sustaining energy, potable water, information, health, and social services during emergencies and year-round.

As climate change continues to severely and disproportionately impact the Caribbean, Seprod Foundation, the Bull Bay Football Club and Mercy Corps are working together on innovative and community-led approaches to traditional natural disaster responses.

CRI ensures that natural disaster response moves beyond response and recovery, and instead builds long-term resilience to these intensifying seasonal hazards and their underlying causes.

“It is truly exciting to collaborate with the Bull Bay Football Club, Mercy Corps and Takeda Pharmaceuticals in expanding the Caribbean Resiliency Initiative to Jamaica and more specifically, to our community in Bull Bay, St Andrew. This partnership signifies our commitment to Bull Bay and to addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change in Jamaica and in our region. Through the Resilience Hubs, we will not only meet immediate needs of the community during emergencies, but will make progress toward a more sustainable and resilient future for the community members.” commented Lisa D’Oyen, executive director of Seprod Foundation.

Paul Hibbert, president of the Bull Bay Football Club, where the Resiliency Hub will be located, expressed excitement at the commencement of this important initiative.

“Our commitment to the well being of our community has always extended beyond the football field. Being a collaborator on this project is a testament to our dedication to serving the needs of the Bull Bay community. Together, we will not only improve the infrastructure in the community but we will ensure that we are equipped and ready in the event of natural disasters.” he said.

Juliet Holness, member of parliament for East Rural St Andrew, expressed support for the initiative. “As the member of parliament representing the resilient community of Bull Bay, I am pleased to see the launching of the Caribbean Resilience Initiative in our community. I applaud the commitment of all the partners involved and I look forward to working with them to ensure that our community can withstand the escalating impacts of climate change. Through this collaboration, we are not only addressing the immediate needs of our constituents during emergencies but we are laying the foundation for sustainable and long term resilience. I extend my gratitude to all involved for their commitment to the well being of our people and the advancement of our country and our region,” she said.

CRI helps climate-vulnerable communities improve their ability to cope, recover, and rebuild following disasters, through strategies that measurably improve their ability to thrive following disaster:

• Infrastructure – Resilience Hubs are administered by community-based organizations and equipped with storm-resistant infrastructure to meet basic needs during emergencies, including access to clean and reliable water among other life-saving services.
• Livelihoods – CRI supports vulnerable and hurricane-impacted small business owners and their employees by helping people protect their existing small businesses and develop new, diverse revenue streams.
• Community Preparedness – CRI focuses on social behavior change to support the most vulnerable in their preparedness and the adoption of new behaviors and practices at the individual, household, and community levels.

“We are proud to partner with Mercy Corps’ Caribbean Resilience Initiative in some of the world’s most climate-impacted regions through our Global CSR Program,” said Takako Ohyabu, Takeda’s chief global corporate affairs and sustainability officer.

“We partner with organizations on robust, long-term funding commitments because we know that sustainable impact takes time. Through this programme, our employees have direct decision-making power and their choice to support Mercy Corps for this three-year expansion project exemplifies our company-wide commitment to addressing global health problems in innovative, enduring ways.”