Community Empowerment and Transformation Project (COMET)

A major challenge facing the Government of Jamaica is ensuring citizen security. The fact that the island has the highest per capita homicide rate in the world in 2005 -- 63 murders per 100,000 persons - is evidence of the magnitude of the crisis faced by the country. The high level of violent crime has persisted for some 30 years with violence now a familiar part of everyday life in urban Jamaica. Violent crime threatens the welfare of citizens, hampers community development and dampens local and international investments.

The USAID Community Empowerment and Transformation (COMET) project works with the police and residents in select communities to mitigate this problem of violent crime. USAID brings together residents and representatives from the Government of Jamaica, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), church groups, community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations to identify and implement solutions to problems facing their communities.

COMET is building on the success of two previous USAID innercity development programs, the Peace and Prosperity Project and the Community Policing Initiative, both of which were based in the once violence-torn Kingston community of Grants Pen. COMET is now further strengthening the relationship between the police and the community to help reduce crime and improve the quality of life for citizens. Along with direct training of the police force in community policing methods, COMET activities also facilitate economic opportunities for residents (especially youth) by building the capacity of community organizations to provide skills training and other assistance to citizens; and forging partnerships with private sector businesses to increase job prospects and opportunities for residents.

To further maximize results, USAID is co-locating new COMET interventions in two communities where the World Bank is initiating its Inner City Basic Services for the Poor Project i.e. Central Village and Flanker.

Although COMET activities are targeted at the community level, national reach and impact are expected as the project provides a framework for a community policing and community transformation that can and is being adopted by the Government of Jamaica and communities across the island.

COMET focuses on the following major activities to achieve its goals:

• Assistance to the Jamaica Constabulary Force and residents to implement effective community policing programs; 
• Encouraging community groups to partner with the police and other organizations; 
• Increasing citizen participation in the community transformation process; 
• Assisting key community groups to become financially self-reliant and more effective; and 
• Ensuring “ownership” of community activities by residents and local groups.

USAID Jamaica

“Future WALMART” – this message of optimism is characteristic of Jamaican micro-entrepreneurs.

Community Policing/JCF Support: Through a collaborative working relationship with the JCF, USAID has helped the JCF to finalize its community policing services delivery framework i.e. the national strategy for community safety. This framework will guide the replication and practice of community policing by police officers in communities island-wide. Other support includes the development and revision of curriculum for community policing at the JCF staff training college and targeted community policing training for police officers and residents in USAID’s targeted communities.

USAID is also incorporating mediation into the community policing activities and community/police partnerships to leverage broader buy-in to community transformation.

Civil Society Strengthening/Community Development: USAID is building the capacity of key community organizations, such as faith-based entities, youth clubs and skills training entity to provide effective and sustainable services to the community. There is a special focus on empowerment of youth, including at-risk youth and gang members, by providing access to skills training and leveraging small business development assistance.

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