KINGSTON, Jamaica – Norway’s Crown Prince, Haakon Magnus, has ended a three-day visit to Jamaica, highlighting innovative efforts to address climate change, protect marine ecosystems, and reduce poverty.
The visit, which was conducted in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), underscored the urgency of collective action to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador since 2003, the Crown Prince has been a steadfast advocate for global development, with a particular focus on eradicating poverty (SDG 1) and conserving oceans (SDG 14).
A UNDP statement Wednesday said that the visit to Jamaica reinforced the Crown Prince’s commitment to empower vulnerable communities through sustainable solutions that foster resilience and inspire global action.
The UNDP Resident Representative for the UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica, Kishan Khoday, praised the visit of the Norwegian Crown Prince and for highlighting the significant challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Jamaica, including record temperatures, severe climate-induced disasters, disruption to ocean ecosystems and impact on lives and livelihoods.
“Understanding the nexus of these trends, and ways to advance integrated solutions locally, is critical to building a more resilient future, and was at the heart of the Crown Prince’s visit,” Khoday said.
The UNDP said that during the visit, the Crown Prince gained a firsthand understanding of key UNDP initiatives driving tangible change on the ground, witnessing also the results of the Blue Resilience Programme, funded by Norway. The programme empowers fishers with essential tools and skills to combat illegal fishing and protect marine biodiversity.
He also visited a community water system designed to ensure reliable access to clean water for climate impacted communities, particularly during periods of drought. The project underscores the importance of sustainable water management in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
Reflecting on UNDP’s unique role in the region, the Crown Prince said the UNDP Multi-Country Office occupies an important niche in the local development landscape, focusing on multidimensional approaches to poverty and crisis resilience.
“Anchored in one of our core mottos – Leaving No One Behind – UNDP ensures that the ‘invisible’ silent majority, including persons with disabilities, youth, women, and rural communities, are included,” he added.
The Crown Prince visited Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, where local communities, supported by UNDP, are successfully restoring coral reefs and increasing fish populations. These efforts demonstrate how partnerships among local fishers, UNDP, and the government can yield significant environmental and economic benefits.
“The biomass in the ocean here has increased by more than 500% over the last decade, thanks to the partnership between local fishers, UNDP, and the government to protect this sanctuary,” he said.
The Crown Prince also participated in the National Youth Leaders’ Symposium on Poverty and Climate Change, where discussions centered on empowering young leaders to drive transformative change. (CMC)
