UNDP to expand solar-powered community centres in Jamaica with $9.2m allocation

When complete, the number of solar energy centres supported by UNDP will rise to five, with plans already underway for further installations in other fishing villages impacted by the catastrophic hurricane.

The announcement comes on the heels of Friday's handing over ceremonies in Parottee and Galleon Beach, where UNDP Resident Representative Dr Kishan Khoday signalled the organisation's intention to replicate and scale similar solutions across other vulnerable communities across Jamaica.

With the delivery of the first two centres last week, more than 300 fishers who lost their livelihoods to Hurricane Melissa can now secure cold storage to preserve their post-harvest catch, along with Starlink internet connectivity and device charging stations – all powered entirely by the sun.

Serving 250 fishers in Parottee and 50 in Galleon, the two fully air-conditioned solar energy community centres are each powered by eight photovoltaic panels generating 5,600 watts of energy, complemented by lithium battery storage, a Starlink unit and chest freezers. In a further boost to the community's productive capacity, two boat engines were also handed over to the residents of Galleon for shared use among its fishing community.

Donated by UNDP in partnership with the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) and the Jamaica 4H Foundation under UNDP's Jamaica Resilient Recovery Initiative (JARRI), the centres supply clean, affordable energy at zero cost to the fishing communities – a critical intervention in areas where the power grid remains out of service.

"Though modest in scale, these systems send a strong message: clean energy can support livelihoods, strengthen food security, and help communities recover stronger than before," Dr Khoday stated.

He emphasised that the initiative reflects UNDP's core approach to disaster recovery: rebuilding in ways that reduce future risk while simultaneously supporting long-term sustainable development.

"As climate change continues to intensify risks for Small Island Developing States like Jamaica, solutions such as these, show what climate-smart recovery can look like in practice," he pointed out.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, the Honourable Floyd Green, called for the installation of model mobile solar-powered centres in fishing villages across Jamaica to support fisher livelihoods both in and out of season and to strengthen national food security.

Welcoming the donation, Minister Green said the centres "tick all the boxes" related to sustainability, climate resilience and the principle of building back better.

"Rebuilding livelihoods is key to rebuilding communities impacted by the hurricane and requires strong partnerships," Minister Green stated. He lauded the fishing communities for their remarkable resilience, acknowledging their self-reliance and drive when presented with opportunities.

Minister of State in the Ministry, the Honourable Franklin Witter, lauded the solar centres as crucial to reducing post-harvest losses at a time when the power grid remained offline in the communities. He noted that with the advance of climate change, the solar facilities will go a long way in building the long-term resilience of the fishing sector.

Reiterating the National Fisheries Authority's commitment to supporting impacted fishing communities, Chief Executive Officer Dr Gavin Bellamy said the solar facilities marked "another significant step forward on the path to recovery and long-term resilience."

Dr Bellamy further reported that the NFA has been providing immediate relief to fishing communities, including wire supplies to replace lost and damaged fish pots, and facilitating license replacements, renewals and registrations.

A direct response to reports of crippling post-harvest losses among fishers in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the solar energy community centres solve the critical challenge of prolonged disruptions in power supply while providing a cost-effective alternative to grid-tied energy costs.

The solar-powered solutions form part of UNDP's broader Jamaica Resilient Recovery Initiative, which encompasses livelihoods recovery, home repair technical advisory services and resilient planning to help communities withstand future climate shocks.