Support Jamaica's Recovery from Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica Hurricane Recovery ReportExecutive Summary

All Hands and Hearts (AH&H) is implementing a comprehensive recovery program in Jamaica following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa. Through a combination of shelter repair, cash-for-work programming, community training, and small business recovery initiatives, AH&H is supporting vulnerable households, strengthening community resilience, and restoring livelihoods across some of the hardest-hit communities in St. Elizabeth Parish and surrounding regions.

The program is funded through a partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the American Express Foundation. Recovery activities include heavy and light shelter repairs, distribution of repair materials, cash-for-work opportunities, Build Back Safer (BBS) training, solar light distribution, and grants to support small businesses impacted by the hurricane.

Since program launch in January, AH&H has completed extensive household assessments, begun large-scale shelter recovery activities, trained community members in safer construction practices, and established partnerships with local suppliers and community stakeholders. The program is designed not only to address immediate recovery needs but also to strengthen long-term resilience to future disasters.

Program ObjectivesShelter Recovery and Resilience

Provide vulnerable households with the materials, technical guidance, and support required to safely repair homes damaged by Hurricane Melissa through:

• Heavy shelter repair assistance for households with significant structural damage.
• Light shelter repair assistance through vouchers and in-kind material distributions.
• Build Back Safer (BBS) training and technical guidance.
• Community-level demonstrations and awareness activities.
• Solar light distribution to communities without reliable electricity access.

Livelihood Restoration

Support economic recovery through:

• Cash-for-work opportunities linked to shelter recovery activities.
• Local procurement and engagement of community labor.
• Small business recovery grants through the American Express Foundation partnership.
• Community skills development and technical training.

Program Reach and Achievements

AH&H has made substantial progress during the recovery phase, including:

Activity

Achievement

Heavy roof repair assessments

195 household assessments completed

Heavy repair participant selection

100 households selected

Heavy repair distributions

40 of 83 planned distributions completed

Communities assessed for light repair support

Multiple communities completed across St. Elizabeth

Light repair assessments

Approximately 550 of 890 planned assessments completed

Community trainings

111 participants trained

Solar light distribution

204 solar lamps delivered to Accompong

Hardware store partnerships

MOUs signed with six hardware suppliers

Small business recovery grants

Program launched to support 40 businesses

Additional accomplishments include completion of all heavy repair assessments in Coker and Elim communities and establishment of operational systems for voucher distribution and material procurement.

Strategic Approach

AH&H's recovery strategy is built around three complementary pillars:

1. Shelter Recovery

Deliver targeted shelter repair support through both heavy and light repair interventions. Assistance combines technical oversight, material support, and Build Back Safer principles to reduce future disaster risk.

2. Livelihood Recovery

Restore economic opportunities through cash-for-work programming, local labor engagement, and targeted support to small businesses affected by Hurricane Melissa.

3. Community Resilience

Strengthen local capacity through technical training, community demonstrations, solar lighting initiatives, and partnerships that enhance preparedness and recovery capabilities.

This integrated approach helps households recover safely while strengthening long-term resilience and community self-sufficiency.

Program Portfolio1. Heavy Shelter Repair ProgramCurrent Activities

• Completion of household assessments in Coker and Elim.
• Distribution of heavy repair materials.
• Contractor-supported and AH&H-led roof repair activities.
• Technical supervision and Build Back Safer implementation.

Progress

• 100% assessment completion in targeted heavy repair communities.
• 17 completed home roof repairs through AH&H and contractor teams.
• 40 heavy repair material distributions completed.
• 100 households targeted under the IOM grant.

Expected Outcomes

• Improved structural safety for vulnerable households.
• Reduced exposure to future hurricane impacts.
• Increased adoption of resilient construction practices.

2. Light Shelter Repair ProgramCurrent Activities

• Household assessments across multiple communities.
• Voucher-based repair support.
• In-kind repair material distributions.
• Community technical guidance and training.

Target

• 890 households supported through light repair assistance.

Expected Outcomes

• Restoration of safe living conditions.
• Faster household recovery.
• Increased community awareness of safer construction methods.

3. Cash-for-Work ProgramCurrent Activities

• Community labor engagement supporting shelter repair activities.
• Local employment opportunities tied to recovery projects.

Target

• Engagement of 834 community members.

Expected Outcomes

• Immediate income support for affected households.
• Strengthened local economic recovery.
• Skills development and increased community participation in recovery efforts.

4. Community Training and Capacity BuildingCurrent Activities

• Build Back Safer training sessions.
• Tool demonstrations and practical construction workshops.
• Community mobilization and outreach.

Progress

• 111 participants trained to date.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased local technical capacity.
• Improved quality and safety of repairs.
• Enhanced preparedness for future disasters.

5. Small Business Recovery Program

Implemented in partnership with the American Express Foundation.

Current Activities

• Launch of the Hurricane Melissa Small Business Recovery Grant Program.
• Assessment and selection of eligible businesses.
• Recovery planning and grant administration.

Target

• 40 small businesses supported.
• Grants of JMD $800,000 each for eligible businesses.

Expected Outcomes

• Restoration of local livelihoods.
• Protection of community jobs.
• Strengthened local economic resilience.

Geographic Coverage

The recovery program is focused primarily on communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa in southern and western Jamaica, including:

St. Elizabeth Parish

• Elim
• Coker
• Cambridge
• Crawford
• Cave/Pondside
• Farm
• Retirement
• Mt. Airy
• Robins River
• Cedar Valley
• New Roads
• Cottage

Additional Recovery Areas

• Accompong and surrounding Cockpit Country communities.
• Coastal communities including Black River and Treasure Beach.
• Other affected communities identified through assessment activities.

These locations were selected based on hurricane impact severity, shelter damage levels, and community vulnerability.

Operational Capacity

AH&H has established a dedicated recovery operation in Jamaica supported by:

• Program leadership and recovery management teams.
• Technical shelter specialists and site supervisors.
• Community coordinators and trainers.
• Logistics and procurement personnel.
• Partnerships with local suppliers and hardware stores.
• Community mobilizers and local labor teams.

The program combines direct implementation, local partnerships, technical oversight, and community engagement to maximize recovery outcomes.

Key Risks and ConsiderationsOperational Risks

• Delays in agreement approvals affecting voucher distribution timelines.
• Supply chain constraints and material availability.
• Weather-related disruptions during implementation.
• Access challenges in remote communities.

Programmatic Risks

• High levels of shelter damage requiring significant resources.
• Ongoing economic vulnerability among affected households.
• Limited access to skilled labor in some communities.
• Continued recovery needs exceeding available funding.

Mitigation Measures

• Diversified supplier network.
• Community-based implementation model.
• Build Back Safer training and technical oversight.
• Strong coordination with local stakeholders and donor partners.

Conclusion

The Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Recovery Program represents a comprehensive effort to restore homes, livelihoods, and community resilience following a major disaster. Through shelter repair assistance, cash-for-work programming, technical training, solar lighting initiatives, and small business recovery grants, AH&H is helping vulnerable households recover safely while laying the foundation for long-term resilience.

With assessments largely completed, distributions underway, and community engagement increasing, the program is positioned to deliver meaningful recovery outcomes for hundreds of households and businesses across affected communities. By combining immediate recovery support with resilience-building activities, AH&H is helping communities not only rebuild, but build back safer and stronger.