Under the Japan/CARICOM framework Disaster Management has been at the forefront of JICA's cooperation in the Caribbean region. This region is prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Hurricanes are now steadily increasing due to global climate change. Jamaica in particular and the Caribbean Region in general have benefited from JICA's technical assistance in the area of Disaster Mitigation. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in Jamaica has cooperated with JICA/JOCV Jamaica Office over the years to ensure smooth implementation of the programme.
JICA's policy of cooperation in the area of disaster management has been strengthened, as JICA strives to assist developing countries build disaster-resilient societies. JICA has defined the following goals in the respective phases of the disaster management cycle and has been cooperating with the developing countries worldwide to achieve these goals:*
"Building Disaster Resilient Societies" – JICA's Cooperation on Disaster Management Publication 2008
Disaster Relief Supplies donated to the government of Jamaica through JICA's Emergency Relief Scheme
In the CARICOM Region JICA has over the past few years supported the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, CDERA, through its programme for support for the goals and strategic objectives of the region's Comprehensive Disaster Management Framework (CDM) :
Support in the area of Disaster Management is as follows:
Over the past few years the Dolphin Head Trust, Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture in Hanover has been the beneficiary of assistance from the Japanese Embassy under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects. Funding for the Bamboo Conversion Uiliization Project was provided to the Dolphin Head Trust for the amount of US$79,000.00.
This project seeks to train unemployed youth in the area to utilize bamboo for the manufacture of furniture. Phase I of the project has seen the construction of the facility to house the operation of the project and the necessary equipment has been purchased.
By the end of the first year some 50 persons were trained in:
Members of the JOCV have also been dispatched by JICA to support the Bamboo Utilization Conversion Project.
Two officers from the Dolphin Head Trust have also received training in Japan in the area of Sustainable Tourism Development for the CARICOM region over the past three years. This environmental project is still ongoing and other phases of the project are to be undertaken by the Dolphin Head Trust.