FAO helps Jamaica secure $50 million for a Green Climate Fund project
The initiative will enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable smallholders in the aftermath of Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved the historic ADAPT Jamaica: Enhancing climate change resilience of vulnerable smallholders in Central Jamaica project at the forty-fourth meeting of the GCF Board in Songdo, South Korea. This is the first single-country GCF investment for the country, targeting more than 700,000 beneficiaries across six central parishes in Jamaica.
ADAPT Jamaica will help farmers tackle climate risks by promoting climate‑resilient farming practices, improving water management and post‑harvest systems, and strengthening access to climate information, finance and markets. Through Farmer Field Schools, producers will receive hands‑on training in technologies such as solar‑powered irrigation, cold storage and improved crop varieties, alongside sustainable soil, water and nutrient management practices.
The project will also establish demonstration sites showcasing hurricane‑resilient protected agriculture, efficient irrigation and water harvesting systems, and agroforestry approaches that reduce erosion, restore soil health and protect ecosystems.
Together, these measures will reduce food losses, stabilize incomes and strengthen resilience across Jamaica’s agricultural value chains, contributing to long‑term food security in the face of climate change.
“The Jamaican Government recognizes the critical importance of developing an agriculture sector which is able to withstand the climatic shocks, inevitable in a warming world,” said the Honourable Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change. “Jamaica thanks the GCF for their consideration and looks forward to working with FAO and our local partners to deliver against the project’s objectives.”
The Honourable Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining of Jamaica noted how timely and critical the project is for the country. “Our farmers are on the frontline of climate change, facing more intense droughts, stronger hurricanes and increasing production risks,” said the Minister.
Hurricane Beryl (Category 4), struck in July 2024, caused over $30 million in agricultural losses, while Hurricane Melissa – the first Category 5 hurricane to make direct landfall in Jamaica – inflicted over $6 billion in damage and destroyed more than 100,000 structures across key agricultural parishes in October 2025.
“This investment allows us to move from response to resilience by strengthening infrastructure, expanding access to climate-smart technologies and improving how farmers produce, store and bring food to market,” stressed the Minister. “It is a decisive step toward securing Jamaica’s food systems for the future.”
Nadine Valat, the FAO–GCF Partnership Coordinator, thanked the Government of Jamaica for “their continued trust in FAO as a partner to access GCF resources.” She also underscored the Development Bank of Jamaica’s and the Jamaica Social Inclusive Fund’s key roles – as GCF Direct Access Entities – in ensuring ADAPT Jamaica’s long-term impact.
Valat was in Songdo, South Korea for the GCF Board and signed the Funded Activity Agreement (FAA) for the ADAPT Jamaica project on Saturday, 28 March 2026 following the project’s approval. She said: “The GCF Board’s endorsement of this project means new funding is reaching the most climate-vulnerable farmers for increased food security and a better life.”
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