Facts

Category: Private public partnership
Location: Canterbury community, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Time: 16 June 2023 – ongoing
Partners: UN-Habitat, Saint James Municipal Corporation, Canterbury Community, Sandals Foundation
Participants: Representatives from local government, academia, worship groups, social workers, engineers, other professionals, and Canterbury Community residents

Her story

Challenges

Montego Bay is one of Jamaica’s fastest-growing cities and has the largest population living in informal settlements, which are often in hazardous areas prone to natural disasters. Residents face high unemployment, especially among youth, poor treatment from security forces, and limited access to clean water and sanitation, exacerbating health issues. The area’s unplanned nature keeps many trapped in poverty. Key informal settlements include Canterbury, William Street, Albion Lane, Paradise Rowe, and Grange Pen, particularly around the North Gully.

Canterbury, with 1,800 residents, is just minutes from downtown but suffers from violent crime, high unemployment, and poor infrastructure. It also faces flooding, waste management issues, and limited access to services, contributing to low resilience. While Montego Bay’s tourism-driven economy supports local jobs, extreme weather and the COVID-19 pandemic have further jeopardized employment opportunities.

Solutions

This project builds on Jamaica’s Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PUSP), which has completed three phases by 2022. Phase I (2008-2012) resulted in the Jamaica National Urban Profile, while Phase II (2013-2017) focused on empowering national, city, and community leaders to address informal settlement needs, involving residents in designing upgrades. Phase III, during COVID-19, aimed to build resilience in Montego Bay, creating temporary jobs for 160 community members, mainly women and youth, and improving hygiene with waste collection points and garbage removal.

The Canterbury Community Center and Public Space initiative follows the People Public Private Partnership (PPPP) model, involving the Canterbury Community Development Committee, St. James Municipal Corporation, and private contractors. The project will transform an underused space into a vibrant, green multi-use area, featuring rainwater collection for hygiene and flood-resistant green infrastructure. It aims to mitigate flooding, improve air quality, and provide spaces for social, educational, and economic activities, boosting community resilience and supporting sustainable development in Canterbury.

Opportunities

The project aims to strengthen Canterbury’s resilience by creating a central community hub for social cohesion, recreation, and services. It will offer educational, social, and environmental programs, fostering a greener and cleaner environment.

The initiative focuses on inclusive decision-making, involving women, youth, and children in socio-economic development. Residents will receive technical training and actively contribute to the project. It promotes sustainable development by enhancing social, economic, and environmental aspects, boosting community pride and ownership. The center will also serve as a resource hub, supporting skills development, entrepreneurship, and local employment. Environmental improvements include better drainage, green spaces, and increased biodiversity, promoting a healthy ecosystem.

Expected impact 

The project will positively impact social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

The community center’s participatory design will improve social cohesion by providing a safe space for entertainment, skill development, and entrepreneurial opportunities, with a focus on women, youth, and children. It will also ensure inclusive decision-making and socio-economic development.

Economically, the center will serve as a vocational training hub, equipping individuals with employable skills. The Canterbury Community Social Enterprise will create job opportunities, support small businesses, and foster sustainable growth, contributing to the local economy.

Environmentally, the center’s rooftop features, including rainwater collection and solar panels, alongside green infrastructure and pocket parks, will boost environmental resilience, enhance biodiversity, provide shade, and improve air quality.

Lessons learned 

The Canterbury project highlights the importance of inclusive, participatory planning in urban development, particularly in vulnerable communities. One key lesson learned is the value of engaging diverse stakeholders early on, from local authorities to community members, especially women and youth. This participatory approach fostered a sense of ownership and ensured that the design addressed real community needs. The use of tools like the Her City Toolbox and Minecraft empowered young residents to visualize and contribute to the project, showing that innovative, accessible design methods can lead to more inclusive outcomes. Moreover, focusing on climate resilience at the community level underscored the importance of sustainable development that aligns with local capacities and environmental realities.

Results

Block 3: Site specific assessment

The workshops gathered data and information on how the space was currently used in terms of five criteria: dimensions: use and user, accessibility, amenities and furniture, comfort and safety, and green environment.

Block 4: Analysing challenges

This workshop defines and understands Canterbury Public Space’s main challenges and what participants imagine it could like after transformation.

Block 5: Designing ideas

This workshop turns the vision and ideas from the previous workshop into design ideas. The participants mainly target young members from the Canterbury community. Their Minecraft design will be incorporated into development plans and architectural designs.

Related SDGs

The project in Beirut relates to the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 8, 10, 11 and 17.

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Her City is a joint urban development initiative by UN-Habitat (the United Nations Human Settlements Programme) and Shared City Foundation.