Jamaica

Jamaica embarked on its first long-term strategic plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica, in 2009. This National Development Plan is a multi-sectoral approach to making Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, do business, and raise families (Vision 2030 Jamaica). While Jamaica enjoyed significant development progress in its social, economic, and political history, the country is challenged by a persistent fiscal deficit and heavy indebtedness. These challenges are exacerbated by the global economic crisis.  

High rates of unemployment, crime, and corruption are some of the factors impeding Jamaica’s competitiveness.  Frequent natural disasters impact key sectors such as tourism and agriculture. Jamaica attracts over 1 million travelers from the U.S. each year and is the U.S.’s third largest trading partner in the Caribbean. Over the last five years, the U.S. has also accounted for the largest share of foreign direct investment in the country. Hence, the country’s political, economic, and social conditions directly affect U.S. national interests.

USAID/Jamaica has established a track record for promoting community safety and security; widening access to quality basic education; and increasing resiliency of targeted sectors to global climate change. The Mission will continue to serve as a leader in development initiatives within the Caribbean region and more broadly, and will further tackle the main challenges in Jamaica. Emphasis will be focused on an integrated approach to create opportunities for secure livelihoods through a more cohesive, just, and healthy environment.  The Mission will work toward this goal by tackling the following:

1.  Improving Basic Education and Health among targeted populations; contributing to the Agency’s broader goal of 100 million children reading at grade level by 2015. 

2.  Increasing Security among targeted rural and urban communities and environments. through capacity building for targeted government and civil society partners; piloting and demonstrating integrated Climate Change adaptation and/or mitigation activities; and improved access and quality of data and information to inform decision making.