United Nations Development Programme Jamaica

Maintaining economic and social equilibrium represents a key challenge in many of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States. When combined with global development threats such as drug trafficking, terrorism, money laundering and HIV/AIDS, this creates the need for new development approaches and solutions. The UNDP Jamaica Multi-Country Office focuses on key national priorities and strategies in five priority areas, including:

• Poverty Reduction
• Governance, encompassing Conflict Prevention and Peace Building as well as Justice and Security Sector Reform
• Energy and Environment
• Crisis Prevention and Recovery, particularly Disaster Risk Reduction
• HIV/AIDS

In 2007 we had 26 projects in Jamaica, Turks and Caicos Islands, Cayman Islands and Bahamas. The content and management arrangements of our assistance are outlined in the Country Programme Action Plan for 2007-2011, approved in September 2006 by the UNDP Executive Board.

Our Country Programme supports the overarching the framework of the global Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), adopted at the Millennium Summit in September 2000. The heads of state and government from 189 nations reached an historic agreement there that resulted in the Millennium Declaration, giving voice to shared values and an unequivocal commitment to reducing world poverty by half by 2015. The eight MDGs and their targets thus embody the solemn commitment of all countries, including those covered by the UNDP Jamaica Multi-Country Office, to promoting development. See Jamaica’s Progress Toward the MDGs

The 2007-2011 Country Programme also is based on the analysis of the 2006-2010 United Nations Common Country Assessment (CCA) , which analyzes the root causes of priority national development challenges in an effort to make complex problems more understandable. This analysis also helps national partners to see that change is possible, identifying needs at all levels to generate action. The CCA assessed that major challenges persist in Jamaica, particularly in the social sectors, despite modest economic growth and improved socioeconomic and environmental indicators.

UNDP works with decision makers and those at the highest levels of Government from the start of our programme planning. This ensures that global experiences and tools are adapted to transform national policy and development processes. Secondly, we support policy-level action by effective interventions at institutional and community levels. For example, the Jamaica Multi-Country Office has promoted building conflict resolution skills at the grassroots as alternatives to reduce violence.

All our programme documents are approved and signed by the Government, ensuring full national ownership of the projects. Allocation of financial resources is the joint decision of the Government and UNDP. Expected outcomes of the Country Programme can be found in the UNDP Country Programme Document for Jamaica (2007-2011), while a full list of major initiatives can be found under What we do.