In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group President Ilan Goldfajn joined Caribbean heads of state in a visit to Jamaica’s devastated areas to offer solidarity and support in the country’s urgent response and recovery efforts.
The IDB Group is supporting this effort not only with financing, but with technical expertise, to help turn recovery into long-term resilience.
Within a package totalling US$1.26 billion in financing and US$4.7 million in technicalcooperation grants, the Bank has made available rapid financing tools and technical-support planning and coordination across two phases — emergency and reconstruction.
For the emergency phase, Jamaica’s Contingent Credit Facility was recently expanded, with US$300 million available for parametric events — helping the country mobilise emergency relief, while protecting fiscal space. In addition, the Bank has made available US$500 000 in emergency humanitarian support, together with US$2.15 million in technical cooperation grants.
For the recovery and reconstruction phase, the IDB Group is working with the government, the World Bank, and other partners on priority areas where its technical experience and long-standing engagement can deliver sustained impact.
Grid modernisation
The support package includes up to US$960 million in sovereign financing and US$2.05 million in technical-cooperation grants.
The focus is on health with plans to rebuild hospitals and health centres in high-impact areas, including relocation, retrofitting, and digital upgrades.
As it relates to housing the Bank plans to supporting Jamaica in rebuilding the housing sector, including technical assistance and financing for the three phases that the government of Jamaica is planning, which includes emergency, temporary housing, short-term shelters, and long-term reconstruction for the thousands of people who have lost their homes in the western parishes.
In energy it will be preparing a joint publicprivate proposal for grid modernisation, building on IDB Invest’s existing engagement with Jamaica’s power utility and partnering with the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation.
The Bank also plans to be coordinating with the National Water Commission to restore services, assess damage, and develop a sector-wide resilience plan using HydroBID.
“Coming here straight from COP30 is a reminder: resilience isn’t tomorrow’s agenda; it’s crucial today,” said Goldfajn.
“We’re supporting Jamaica to rebuild stronger, avoid future losses, and protect lives. That’s what resilience means,” he added. (PR)
The post Jamaica receives support from IDB appeared first on nationnews.com.