Home » UN System

16th Annual International Development Partners Retreat (IDP)

The International Development Partners Retreat is an annual working meeting which facilitates dialogue between the International Development Partners (IDP's) and the Government of Jamaica (GoJ). The retreat provides a neutral forum in which senior GoJ representatives provide an update on key challenges as well as assist in identifying opportunities for new partnerships; as IDP's support the government's efforts in achieving sustainable development.

The 16thAnnual Retreat hosted on December 1-2, 2010 was convened against the backdrop of an especially challenging year for Jamaica marked by a number of transformational events both locally and internationally. These included the West Kingston incursion, the Jamaica Debt Exchange programme, the IMF agreement, the global financial crisis, and the passage of Tropical Storm Nicole.

 

The event opened by Jamaica's Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding and attended by over seventy (70) participants from the international donor community had five (5)specific objectives:

  1. To provide an update on the fiscal status of the country and on the Jamaica - International Monetary Fund Standby Agreement
  2. Overview of past and current collaborative activities
  3. Assessment of the current and potential impact of public sector reform
  4. Alignment of the developmental goals/plans of the IDPs with those of the GOJ
  5. Reports from working groups regarding their progress in their specific areas, namely:
  1. Debt, Public Finance and Economic Growth
  2. Education
  3. National Security, Justice and Crime
  4. Food Security

The duration of the retreat was two days and featured plenary sessions with the following format:

  1. State of the Jamaican Economy
  2. Reports by Working Groups in the four key areas of international development support, namely, Debt, Public Finance and Economic Growth; Education; National Security, Justice and Crime and; Food Security
  3. Reform of the Jamaican Civil Service and the Implication for IDP program implementation
  4. Responding to crisis - Update on the proposed community renewal program 
  5. Consultations with Civil Society Groups

 

Pictures/ 16th IDPs Retreat Executive Summary 2010