Friday, 31 January 2025 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
The Golf View Hotel, 5 1/2 Caledonia Road, Mandeville
 

Salutations:

 Mrs. Sharon Coburn Robinson, Principal Director, Bureau of Gender Affairs 
 Mrs. Marva Allen Simms, Board Member, Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers
 Beneficiaries 
 Specially invited guests
 Members of the Media

Good morning. 

Months after hurricane Beryl destroyed many livelihoods, I am thrilled that we can finally celebrate a new start for you – 54 women business owners – with grants and inputs to restore your enterprises. Small businesses like yours are the backbone of communities and the lifeblood of our economies. If you are not up and running as soon as possible after crisis, economies recover slowly, and families suffer. 

In Jamaica, women play a significant role in the small business sector, some 58 Percent by last count. But ILO reports indicate a majority of institutions in Jamaica which provide financing and business development services to MSMEs do not consider the specific needs of women entrepreneurs. 

This financing gap is why we have partnered with the Bureau of Gender Affairs and the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers to specifically support the recovery of women business owners impacted by hurricane Beryl.  
UNDP was absolutely honoured to support the restoration of these critical services across three parishes over the past few months. By financing your empowerment journey, and building your capacity to operate resiliently, you are better prepared to navigate future shocks with limited or no down time. 

I am already inspired by your courage and tenacity. I was able to visit three beneficiaries on location at their businesses and to speak with them about their challenges and dreams. Observing Keisha and Maya’s joy in their rehabilitated and freshly re-stocked chicken coops, and watching Trishawna happily reap strawberries will remain with me for a long time. 

These personal stories reinforce our determination to support you as women entrepreneurs, by advancing gender equality (SDG 5), promoting economic growth and decent work (SDG 8), fostering climate resilience (SDG 13), and strengthening partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17). 

By providing essential business inputs and capacity-building workshops, this initiative empowers women to rebuild their enterprises, enhance their economic independence, and contribute to community recovery. Such targeted support not only accelerates your path to financial stability but also reinforces the critical need for inclusive and resilient economic systems that builds the resilience of vulnerable groups to climate related disasters.

UNDP is committed to staying the course, working with many groups on the frontlines of climate change. Through the Climate Change Resilience Portfolio of our 2022 to 2026 country programme, we continue to support disaster risk recovery interventions while emphasizing a climate smart approach to reduce negative impacts.   

The economic inclusion of women, especially those with disabilities, is essential to fostering long-term sustainability and disaster preparedness. By enhancing business skills, promoting financial literacy, and improving access to resources, we can strengthen the ability of women-led businesses to withstand future crises.

As we celebrate this new beginning, we honour our partners without whom this intervention would not be possible. The Bureau of Gender Affairs and the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers have been model partners who have redoubled their efforts to create an inclusive and enabling environment for women entrepreneurs, including women with disabilities. Through their work, the stage is being set for women to feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive. 

As you close out this chapter and rebuild your enterprises, take the lessons you have learned as fuel for a climate smart future. Be steadfast in incorporating the lessons on resilience then share with others. Jamaica needs your services to sustain normalcy and economic stability when the inevitable crisis strikes. On behalf of UNDP please accept our commendations for your hard work and determination.  

In the words of Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: "There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women."

Thank you!