JAMAICA

Molding talent: Young artisans honing their skills in ceramic pottery making during a workshop in Kingston, Jamaica

Jamaica, an island nation in the Caribbean, is rich in diverse minerals such as bauxite, limestone and non-metallic minerals. However, the country faces significant environmental challenges due to climate change and chronic events like extreme rainfall, droughts, and heat. These factors lead to hazards such as dust, health issues, and fire risks, which threaten the well-being of the population and the environment. Furthermore, coastal erosion, rising sea levels, abnormal weather, and land resource exploitation pose significant environmental challenges. Over 70% of Jamaica’s population lives within 5 km of the coast, making climate change a major impact on key sectors, lives and livelihoods.

The Jamaican government places a strong emphasis on sustainable mining practices. This industry has historically been a driver of community development, creating job opportunities and fostering economic progress for families across the nation. Contributing approximately 1.8% of the GDP, the mining sector supports over 20,000 jobs, underscoring its importance to the country’s economy. The Jamaican National Minerals Policy (2017-2030) is a roadmap to harness the country’s mineral wealth—particularly bauxite, limestone, and silica—as a driver of inclusive and sustainable development. There is also additional informal or community-based mining in the country. Demand from local construction – such as housing and roads – have spurred the growth of the sector.

Development Minerals in Jamaica

The main Development Minerals in Jamaica include limestone, sand, gravel, clay, gypsum, marble and semi-precious stones which are used in construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. This sector plays an important role in generating revenues for the government and is primarily represented by small and medium-sized quarries that create jobs in local communities. Artisans in Jamaica use these minerals and materials to produce value-added products such as ceramics, decorative items and interior design, with distinctive Jamaican looks.

Development Minerals
account for
53%
of total mineral production

4,800 Jamaicans, 21% women

directly employed

7,000

Jamaicans benefit indirectly

1.8% of GDP

Mining and Quarrying sector

US$ 551 million

contributed in export earnings

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN JAMAICA

The Development Minerals Programme in Jamaica had a significant impact on fostering sustainable development of the country’s mining sector. It supported consultations on the Minerals Policy so that it is widely owned by the mining community in the country, helped develop Jamaica’s open-source mining cadastre to improve mineral resource management, instituted training programs at higher education institutions to professionalize the mining sector, and worked with quarries to improve their environmental, social management and improve their productivity.

The Programme also fostered socio-economic inclusion and development of Jamaican artisans working to add value to Development Minerals such as clay, stone and alabaster. Through capacity building and technical assistance, the Programme has empowered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their entrepreneurship and business management skills, while helping acquire useful technical skills to improve the quality of their products.

Developing capacities

Trained 715 industry operators (quarry and mining companies) and stakeholders in improved mine and quarry management from the perspective of environment and safety, conflict resolution, geodata management, and business skills

Digitalizing mining

Built and deployed JAMinCAD, an online mining cadastre system
Created an e-platform for handling grievances

Promoting professionalization in mining

Supported a Bachelor of Sciences in Mining and Quarrying Management at UTECH University and a Certificate Programme at EXED Community College to professionalize the industry
Conducted training on geodata in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI)

Fostering small business development and value addition

Organized technical skills and business management trainings for artisans
Supported socio-economic inclusion of youth through skills
Provided small grants and facilitated market and finance access for artisans

FOCUS AREAS

Geodata Field Work — From paper maps to digital access: Modernizing Jamaica’s mining data

POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS

The Programme supported consultations leading to the adoption of the National Minerals Policy 2017-2030 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining (previously the Ministry of Transport and Mining). The policy aims to promote The National Minerals Policy aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection and social equity, thereby maximizing the benefits of mineral exploitation for Jamaica’s development. It emphasizes responsible mining practices, improved regulations, and increased community engagement.

THE NATIONAL MINERAL POLICY2017- 2030

Mandates registration of illegal and informal operators

Requires quarry operators to have certified quarry managers towards sustainable mining

Diversifies institutional arrangements in the mineral sector, introducing the National Minerals Institute and the Jamaica Limestone Institute

GEOLOGICAL AND MINERAL INFORMATION

The Programme supported the development and the operationalization of JAMinCAD, a digital mining cadastre. JAMinCAD has transformed the Mines and Geology Division’s operations, modernizing the management of mining titles and resources. By providing essential geological and mining data to operators and investors, the system has boosted efficiency, fostered sustainable resource management, and positioned Jamaica as a competitive player in the global mining industry.

JAMinCAD uses open-source software to record and manage mining titles nationwide. This system has streamlined licensing processes, improved transparency, and enhanced the government’s ability to oversee mineral resources, attracting investment to Jamaica’s mining and quarrying sector. Previously reliant on slow, paper-based systems and costly proprietary software, the sector now benefits from real-time data on mineral types, locations, quantities, and environmental boundaries.

Main changes brought by JAMinCAD:

Reduced costs by using a Free and Open Software (FOSS)

Improved security of the mining database

Customizable functions enabling tailored solutions

Renewed mining leases and prospecting rights

Provided access to emerging trends in geospatial technology

Improved the reporting of annuity and quarry production returns

The journey to JAMinCAD:

Artisanal and small-scale mining — Training and better equipment leads to faster turnaround time, enhances quality control in quarry operations in Saint Ann, Jamaica

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, GOVERNANCE AND SAFETY PRACTICES

Mining Matters: A mobile app on conflict resolution between mining and communities

The Programme conducted trainings on conflict-sensitive mining for miners and community members. These training workshops, conducted island-wide, were attended by participants who gained valuable insights into conflict risk analysis, the establishment of effective grievance mechanisms, and community engagement strategies. The training strengthened the capacity of quarry operators, mining enterprises, and local communities, enabling them to conduct conflict assessments, develop conflict management frameworks, and implement grievance-handling mechanisms. These efforts culminated in the creation and rollout of a national conflict management and grievance-handling procedure.

The success of the training inspired the development of Mining Matters, a conflict resolution application launched in 2023. This innovative tool allows communities to report environmental incidents directly to the National Environmental and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Mines and Geology Division (MGD), other communities, and the press, facilitating early intervention and prompt action. The app has streamlined the conflict resolution process, enabling stakeholders to log incidents, report issues, and address problems more efficiently.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining decided to add new focus areas on environmental and social sustainability in Mining Matters. Additionally, the Ministry continues to collaborate with stakeholders by hosting monthly technical sessions to share progress updates, foster knowledge exchange, and ensure the ongoing improvement of the platform.

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN ARTISANAL MINING

The Programme empowered women in the Development Minerals sector by providing small grants and organizing targeted training sessions. Participants, many of whom owned or managed mining businesses, enhanced their entrepreneurial skills in procurement and contract negotiation for commercial and residential projects. These sessions also facilitated open discussions about the challenges women face in the sector, such as gender bias and low contract-signing rates.

Between 2022 and 2023, the Programme conducted specialized training for women in mining, with 50% of attendees being women from women-owned or operated businesses. These sessions not only improved participants’ skills, but also addressed barriers to women’s success in the sector, leading to greater confidence and competitiveness.

Clay artisan Robert Campbell enhanced the business model of his Trench Town Ceramics and Art Centre initiative

To boost entrepreneurship and business development skills of small- and medium-scale mining entrepreneurs and artisans, the Programme in collaboration with the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) implemented training workshops across parishes (districts) in Jamaica. Participants gained knowledge on:

Enhanced procurement strategies
Improved organization efficient and competitiveness
Fostering sustainable practices
Optimizing value chains in business

The Programme also provided practical support to artisans by:

Facilitating access to markets

Helping ASMEs sell ceramic and pottery products

Contributing to an online portal for selling Jamaican products to improve their access to markets.

Value Addition and Low-Carbon Materials — Minerals with a story: Handmade products made from Development Minerals by Jamaican artisans were displayed during an exhibition in Zambia

Skills and Value-addition to Development Minerals

The Programme helped Jamaican artisans who work with natural materials like clay, gypsum, and limestone acquire skills for better quality of their products. Through training in Tanzania and Zambia, they learned new techniques, improved their products, and found inspiration in African art. Small grants allowed artisans to make better, more durable ceramics using refined shaping and glazing methods. Artisans have formed cooperatives or business enterprises, invested in equipment, and secured orders from hotels and shops catering for tourists. Some have secured funding to expand their businesses. Lessons on eco-friendly production from Tanzania ensure their craft stays sustainable, making it more appealing to today’s buyers. These initiatives didn’t just improve skills—they transformed the industry, blending tradition with modern techniques and creating lasting opportunities for Jamaica’s artisan community.
Many artisans supported by the Programme operate in inner-city communities with high youth unemployment. Partnering with local organizations, the Programme supported them with grants to in improving their workplaces and offering trainings for youth.

Low-carbon materials

The Programme supported a forward-looking study to explore pathways for adaptation to climate change while building better – with low-carbon materials, relying on Jamaica’s large reserves of limestones and other minerals.

Buildings are responsible for some 30-40 percent of global energy demand and about 8 percent of global emissions. One of the most important goals of more efficient urbanization is the decarbonization of the building supply chain. One of the key areas of decarbonization is substituting the most energy-intensive materials such as concrete and steel.

The vast global changes brought about by climate change will reshape the profile of costs and opportunities in the Caribbean island nations like Jamaica. In a scenario of moderate climate change, adaption and preparedness are needed – and possible – through measures such as rezoning of infrastructure, active beach and coastal management, measures to protect reefs and mangroves, permeable road paving to absorb flash floods, net zero buildings to reduce energy demand, and changes in planning and building control for new buildings to withstand Category 5 storms.

Jamaica has large reserves of high-grade limestone and other important minerals, and a domestic cement manufacturing facility. The study identifies possible solution pathways for Jamaica – and other Caribbean island nations: evolution and revolution. The evolution pathway would require using lower-carbon materials to complement or partly substitute for existing materials. It would also include industrial symbiosis and circular production. The revolution pathway would involve looking for low-carbon materials that can substitute entirely for cement and/ or steel.