About USAID/Jamaica

The United States has a long history of extending a helping hand to those people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the U.S. government agency that implements U.S. foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs. USAID provides technical assistance to help developing countries, like Jamaica, to implement programs that will benefit Jamaica politically, socially and economically.

USAID in Jamaica

U.S. economic assistance to Jamaica began during the Mutual Security Act period in FY 1956. With the establishment of USAID under the Foreign Assistance Act, the USAID/Jamaica program formally began in 1962.

Our current assistance program focuses on economic growth, rural development, health, democracy and governance, and education.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

USAID’s economic growth activities are geared toward promoting free market economic policies and streamlining government regulations. USAID is exploring   opportunities to support the Jamaican government’s reform agenda in land titling, paying taxes, accessing credit and dealing with licenses.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

There is a strong link between Jamaica’s economy and its natural resource base. The country’s major industries, including tourism, bauxite mining, and agriculture can have adverse effects on the environment. USAID is working in biodiversity-sensitive rural areas to support alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture and the revitalization of tree crops such as coffee and cocoa. The program supports the agribusiness, eco-tourism, and cottage industries that provide alternative livelihoods while preserving Jamaica’s unique biodiversity. 

HEALTH

U.S.G. resources assist the Ministry of Health to reach marginalized populations in the fight against HIV/AIDS. USAID supported the establishment of the Jamaica Business Council on HIV/AIDS (JaBCHA). JaBCHA mandate is to coordinate the response of the private sector, acting as a clearinghouse of information in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on business, and facilitating the adoption of policies, prevention and treatment strategies aimed at eradicating HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the workplace. Technical assistance is also given to the National Family Planning Board, to develop the 2008 National Reproductive Health Survey which provides national data on fertility, family planning, HIV/AIDS, gender norms and violence, and risk behaviors.

DEMOCRACY and GOVERNANCE

The Community Empowerment and Transformation project focuses on four components: increased citizens’ participation in security i.e. youth participation and civic engagement; public education; partnership building; and institutional strengthening.  USAID supports the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) by addressing institutional hurdles that hinder the effectiveness and sustained delivery of community policing. The JCF and the Ministry of National Security maintain that the most serious threats to national security come from gangs and transnational criminal networks. Therefore USAID is funding the development of a Gang Violence Prevention Strategy and sub-regional partnerships between law enforcement agencies and security stakeholders. To increase the level and quality of citizens’ participation in security the project is helping to tackle corruption at varying levels by promoting youth participation in civic engagement and helping to strengthen the national integrity system. USAID recognizes the economic dimension of community safety and security and the direct correlation between youth employment and violent crime. Therefore the project supports micro-enterprise to create job opportunities through technical, financial and policy support to private and public sectors.

EDUCATION

Through the Expanding Educational Horizons project, USAID assistance helps to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of primary school children; providing educational and life skills programs for out-of-school youth; making educational financing more sustainable through public/private partnerships, and encouraging parent and community participation to improve the quality and relevance of education.

USAID funds the Caribbean Center for Excellence in Teacher Training (C-CETT) Program - a Presidential initiative - which focuses specifically on the teaching of reading to early primary grade students. It is managed in Jamaica and implemented in the Caribbean countries of  Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and, Trinidad and Tobago. This year the program is being expanded to Anguilla, Antigua/Barbuda, St. Kitts/ Nevis, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands.

Our assistance strategy for 2010 -2014

As we approach the end of our 2005-2009 strategy, USAID/Jamaica is committed to further supporting the Government of Jamaica to achieve its development priorities. Our assistance program will include:

• Increasing peace and security by reducing crime and corruption;
• promoting economic prosperity and sustainable development, which includes economic policy reform and agricultural development;
• investing in people through education programs; and
• HIV/AIDS prevention.

USAID/Jamaica Country Assistance Strategy 2010-2014 19 May 2009 [pdf, 161 KB]