The Social Development Commission (SDC) has activated its National Community Coordination Network to fast-track recovery efforts in hundreds of communities affected by Hurricane Melissa, strengthening the Government of Jamaica’s data-driven response.
Working under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development (MLGCD), the SDC is leveraging its core expertise in community research, data collection, and citizen engagement to support the Government of Jamaica’s integrated national relief and recovery operations.
The SDC had already played a significant role during all phases of the national emergency, serving on Parish Disaster Committees (PDCs) during the preparedness phase, and on Parish Emergency Operations Committees (PEOCs) throughout the hurricane’s passage. Now, in the post-hurricane phase, the Commission has transitioned to its data-driven recovery role, coordinating field activities, supporting local assessments, and strengthening collaboration between residents, local leadership, and national agencies.
Drawing on its extensive on-the-ground presence, preliminary assessments by the SDC indicate that approximately 362 communities of the 775 it routinely works with experienced varying levels of disruption. The greatest impact was recorded in Westmoreland (76 communities), St. Elizabeth (61), St. James (78), Trelawny (38), Hanover (36), and Manchester (73), where the effects on livelihoods, access, and infrastructure have been most severe.
In this relief and recovery phase, SDC teams are providing critical support to the national effort by:
1. Supporting the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) in conducting Damage
Assessment Surveys to inform planning and resource allocation;
2. Conducting Temporary Accommodation Surveys to assess displaced citizens and guide shelter
and temporary accommodations interventions;
3. Supporting National Clean-Up Week through coordination and community mobilization; and
4. Providing data sharing and community engagement support to other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) working in affected areas.
Executive Director, Mr. Omar C. Frith, emphasized that the SDC’s nationwide reach and technical expertise make it an essential link between communities and government. “The SDC’s strength lies in its ability to collect reliable community data and mobilize people around recovery priorities. Our officers are on the ground in every parish, translating national direction into local action,” Frith stated.
Through its Participatory Governance Framework which connects Community Development Committees (CDCs), Development Area Committees (DACs), and Parish Development Committees (PDCs), the SDC continues to ensure that Jamaica’s recovery process remains people-centred, data-informed, and community-driven.
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