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Jamaica
Strategy
USAID's multi-year
strategy in Jamaica (2000 through 2005) reflects a US commitment to
promote economic growth, protect Jamaica's unique environment on which
tourism and agriculture depend, better preparing Jamaica's youth for
the future (both improved adolescent health and improved basic education),
and to promote good governance. Funding for the Jamaica strategy is
approximately US$13.5 million/year. The strategy includes four strategic
objectives (SOs) and one special objective (SpO) to address problems
of unemployment and crime in two inner city communities.
Strategic
Objective 1 (SO1):
Improving
the Business Environment for Developing
the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise Sectors
From 1996 to 1999
Jamaica's economy experienced negative GDP growth. For FY 2000, it is
expected that GDP growth will be only slightly positive. As a consequence,
previous gains in reducing poverty and in building social and physical
infrastructure conducive to future growth have begun to erode.
Under SO1, USAID
works with private and public sector partners to render Jamaica's business
environment more conducive to investment, and directly assists small
firms to become more competitive and profitable. The strategy focuses
on achieving three intermediate results (IRs):
- IR1 reducing
key business constraints;
- IR2 improving
business skills (and competitiveness) among individual firms: and
- IR3 increasing
micro and small enterprise access to private financing.
The specific activities
under SO1 are designed as strategic opportunities to achieve one or
another of these intermediate results.
One crosscutting
element of the SO1 strategy, however, is the "New Economy Project".
This project began in June 2000 when a contract was awarded to the CARANA
Corporation. Since then, CARANA has provided technical assistance, training,
workshops/conference logistics, networking and database development
and dissemination, and other services needed for implementing SO1.
IR1:
Reducing Key Business Constraints
Several project
activities are contributing to this intermediate result. It is expected
that these initial activities will also give rise to additional strategic
opportunities.
Under an agreement
with the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, a monthly business forum has been
established, the Jamaica Conference Board (JCB). JCB will promote research
and analysis of issues that impede business growth, and will facilitate
open discussion on how to resolve them. It will draw upon and complement
the research and analysis being done by the public sector. JCB topics
will focus primarily on policy issues that impact the "bottom line"
of Jamaican companies, thereby ensuring that the forum will be popular
among key business leaders and public officials. The JCB is based on
models that have successfully operated throughout the world.
A comprehensive
"business roadmap analysis" was recently completed, looking in detail
at government requirements (red tape) that investors face in establishing
and operating businesses. Several impediments were identified, as were
unduly cumbersome procedures that require streamlining. We are currently
working with interested parties to reach consensus on the changes that
are required, and the best means to implement them. One area that has
been identified for immediate attention is tax compliance.
Improved telecommunications
is critical to investment and growth in every sector - as well as to
the vision among some Jamaican leaders of creating a "silicon island".
We are collaborating with the IDB, Caribbean Institute of Technology,
the Ministry of Industry, Technology and Commerce and potentially with
other partners, in providing technical assistance and training to help
modernize and grow this sector.
IR2:
Improving Business Skills (and Competitiveness) Among Individual
Firms
Activities under
this intermediate result are just getting under way, however they build
upon USAID's highly successful "Small Business Export Development Project"
which recently ended. USAID plans to continue to work with private sector
partners, such as the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA), to further
strengthen the entrepreneurial skills and competitiveness at the individual
firm level.
IR3:
Increasing Micro and Small Enterprise Access to
Private Financing
As with export
development, USAID has also had a successful micro-enterprise lending
program in Jamaica for years. However, with the financial crisis in
1999, the Workers Bank, which had managed the program, was taken over
by the Government, and only recently was the program divested to the
Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS).
JNBS is a financially
sound, privately owned and operated financial institution. It has branches
all over the island, which will allow it to expand the micro-enterprise
program island-wide. Over the next several years, we plan to assist
JNBS in these efforts with technical assistance and training.
Strategic
Objective 2 (SO2):
Improved
Quality of Natural Resources
Somewhere around
80-90 percent of Jamaica's coral reefs have been destroyed, largely
due to domestic and agricultural pollution. This has led to a loss of
marine habitats and excessive coastal beach erosion, which is affecting
tourism. Moreover, since the 1960s it is estimated that about two-thirds
of native forests have been destroyed. Given the hilly topography of
the island, forest loss increases land degradation and undermines capacity
for agricultural production. An estimated 80 million tons of topsoil
are lost each year to erosion.
Jamaica also has
some of the most diverse biological habitats on earth, with several
native and endemic species of animals and plants (e.g. the Streamer
Tail Hummingbird, the Giant Swallowtail butterfly and the Jamaican Iguana).
Most Jamaicans reside in the island's coastal area, which is also the
resource base for the island's most important economic sector, tourism.
The overexploitation of coastal resources, the conversion of forests
to other uses, and the indiscriminate disposal of waste in industrial
and urban areas adversely affect the island's land and marine ecosystems.
USAID's emphasis
is on reversing the trend of environmental degradation through the adoption
of environmentally sound practices and policies. The beneficiaries include
communities and resource users in the watersheds and coastal zones,
the private sector - particularly tourism related enterprises - and
the Jamaican populace in general.
This objective
focuses on the following intermediate results:
IR1:
Increased Adoption of Environmentally Sound Practices
The Mission
supports several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community
based organizations (CBOs) to promote environmentally sound practices.
These organizations are developing new models for community participation
and "ownership" in their efforts to introduce and sustain "improved
environmental practices" in the important tourist destinations of Negril,
Ocho Rios and Portland.
NGOs like the Negril
Environmental Protection Trust, St. Ann Environmental Protection Agency,
Friends of the Sea, and the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society carry
out environmental research, monitoring, and community education programs.
USAID-supported NGOs have also introduced more environmentally friendly
economic activities, including eco-tourism ventures and alternative
employment opportunities for fishermen in over-fished waters. Still
other NGOs have promoted wildlife protection, sanitation education,
gray water recycling and organic farming.
In addition, under
the "Environmental Audits for Sustainable Tourism" program, USAID is
improving the environmental management practices of individual hotels
in coastal tourism locations, and providing "Green Globe" certification
once higher standard environmental management systems are fully employed.
This highly successful program often saves hoteliers money, and increases
tourist demand.
IR2:
Adoption of Policies for Improved Environmental Management
USAID is also working
with the new National Environment and Planning Agency (a recent consolidation
of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, Land Development and
Utilization Commission and Town Planning Authority) and with the National
Water Commission (NWC) on a number of critically important policy areas.
One policy focus
has been to develop a national water policy that encourages public/private
partnerships to finance and manage wastewater treatment facilities.
Similarly, progress has also been made in developing public/private
partnerships for park and protected area management planning, including
the introduction and use of user fees by NGOs working in protected areas.
IR3:
Improved Effectiveness of Wastewater Management
Under-utilization
of modern wastewater treatment facilities is a major factor contributing
to coastal water pollution - especially in Ocho Rios and Negril. To
help address this problem, USAID has introduced community contracts
("Memorandum of Understandings") that link public and civil society
stakeholders together in their commitment to monitor and improve wastewater
management in their communities.
Also contributing
to less than optimal wastewater management is the high cost of connecting
to the modern wastewater treatment facilities. Under this IR, the Mission
is also helping to develop financing mechanisms that will facilitate
these "hookups". In addition, the Mission has trained over 100 people
in wastewater management - including policy-level administrators in
the Ministry of Water, the Natural Resources Conservation Authority
(NRCA), the Water Resources Authority (WRA) and the National Water Commission
(NWC), and line staff in the NWC. Additionally, sewage treatment personnel
were trained as part of a special certification program to raise technical
competence in operations and maintenance.
Strategic
Objective 3 (SO3):
Improved Reproductive Health of Youth
Jamaica is well
along in its epidemiological transition, reflecting an aging population
due to declining fertility and mortality, and changes in health risks
attributable to urbanization and lifestyle. Its health indicators are
generally favorable with life expectancy at 72 years for males and 76
for females and relatively low infant mortality (24 per 1,000 live births)
and maternal mortality (120 per 100,000 live births). The total fertility
rate (which measures the total number of children born to a women) decreased
from a high of 6.7 (1970) to 2.8 (1997). This was due in large part
to Jamaica's family planning program, which has been supported by USAID
since the 1970's.
Juxtaposed to these
positive health trends, however, is the more negative data associated
with Jamaican youth ages 10-24 years. Epidemiological and social indicators
point to poor outcomes for an increasing number of adolescents. This
population is clearly "at-risk" for early and unplanned pregnancy and
exposure to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Despite a general decline in the age-specific fertility rates (live
births per 1,000 women/age group) the rate for 15-24 year olds has increased
from 107 (1993) to 112 (1997). Approximately 40 percent of Jamaican
women are pregnant before age 20.
The 1997 Jamaica Reproductive
Health Survey (a survey of women aged 15-49 years of age) found that only
36.1 percent of pregnancies were planned. 41.6 percent were mis-timed and
18.0 percent unwanted. The proportion of unplanned pregnancies is closely
related to the age of the mother. Planned pregnancies increased with age
(up to age group 40-44), while unwanted and mistimed pregnancies are much
more a problem among younger women. Adolescents also account for approximately
7% of the HIV positives in Jamaica
The SO3 strategy
is designed to improve the reproductive health of young Jamaicans between
10 and 24 years of age. Working with both the public and private sectors
the program seeks to:
- introduce approaches
to effectively reach youth with reproductive health information and
services;
- ensure the active
involvement of youth in all phases of program planning, implementation
and evaluation;
- enhance parenting
skills, enabling healthy parnet-child relationships; and
- encourage a
broad range of public-private partnerships.
USAID is implementing
this strategy under two major activities: the AIDS/STI Prevention and
Control Program (ongoing program since 1988) implemented by the Ministry
of Health; and the Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) program (1999)
implemented with technical assistance from the Futures Group International.
IR1:
Increased Use of Quality Reproductive Health and
HIV/AIDS/STI Services and Preventive Practices
Activities under
this IR are geared toward improving the quality of the health information
system to obtain timely and accurate information/data pertaining to
the health status of youth and their "use" of reproductive health services.
Access to better data will assist the Ministry of Health and USAID/J
to more effectively and efficiently provide services to the target population.
In addition, USAID
is also assisting the MOH to develop their five-year strategic (2001-2006)
to address HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. It is
anticipated that the new strategy, coupled with development of USAID's
HIV/AIDS follow-on program that will begin in September 2001) will reflect
an important role for NGOs in increasing the use of reproductive health
services and adoption of preventive practices (behavioral change) among
youth.
IR1.1:
Increased Access to Quality Reproductive Health and
HIV/STI Services
There is a vast
network of private and public health facilities in Jamaica. However,
these facilities are often underutilized by young people. Activities
under this IR will serve to: increase the availability and access to
"youth-friendly" reproductive health services; improve the quality of
services based on accepted protocols and/or standards; increase availability
and acceptability of condom use; and strengthen the MOH and NGOs institutional
capacity to design, implement and sustain improved ARH services.
The Futures Group
International will test and evaluate several different "youth-friendly"
service delivery models (e.g. public health clinic, NGO family planning
clinic, and teen center models). The MOH will in turn "scale up" those
successful models which are within their purview, while those operating
in the private/NGO sector will receive technical assistance for expansion.
Under the HIV/AIDS
program the Ministry of Health will continue to expand condom availability
(traditional and non-traditional outlets) and seek to change the negative
perception among youth towards condom use. The MOH and USAID will conduct
surveys to ascertain young peoples attitudes and behavior, along with
information on retail sales (brands and barriers to youth access).
IR1.2:
Improved Knowledge and Skills Related to Reproductive Health and
HIV/AIDS/STIs
Improved knowledge
is critical to preventing unplanned pregnancy (especially first pregnancy)
and for preventing HIV/STI transmission. The knowledge among youth about
reproductive health practices and the risks of sexually transmitted
infections is quite high in Jamaica. However, there remains a wide gap
between knowledge and practice. Health communications have been less
successful in changing behavior. Accordingly, USAID is focusing on innovative
approaches to delivering reproductive health messages to youth; introducing
more effective educational/informational materials more appropriate
to youth, and strengthening nursing and medical curriculum as it relates
to reproductive health of youth.
A multi-sectoral
approach is needed to effectively reach youth. This includes introducing
innovative training methodology that utilizes the creative and performing
arts into schools. In turn, training is provided to school nurses and
guidance counselors to better enable them to communicate with adolescents
about personal growth and sexuality issues. In addition, NGOs such as
the Red Cross and YWCA have been trained in behavior change and communication
skills related to HIV/STI transmission and condom use.
IR1.3:
National Policies and Guidelines Implemented in
Support of Reproductive Health
Under this IR USAID
will continue to assist the Ministry of Health in its development of
a national reproductive health policy that is favorable and supportive
of the adolescent population. This will include development of practical
guidelines and protocols on ARH services. Previously USAID assisted
the MOH to analyze reproductive health status, gaps, needs, and opportunities.
Building on this analysis, USAID with the Ministry of Health developed
a "Strategic Framework for Reproductive Health with the Family Health
Programme" which will be used to develop plans of actions at the
parish level.
Strategic
Objective 4 (SO4):
Increased Literacy and Numeracy among
Targeted Jamaican Youth
Jamaica has achieved
near universal primary enrollment and has made strides in improving
numeracy and literacy. However nearly one third of all students in grade
seven read below a grade five level.
Enrollment rates
in Jamaica are approximately 78% in pre-school/early childhood education;
98% in primary education; 85% in lower secondary education (12-15 years
of age); 49% in upper secondary education (15-17 years of age); and
7.5% in tertiary education. The significant decline in enrollment after
age 12 and especially after age 15 is of particular concern. Enrollment
rates fall off even more dramatically at higher levels, especially in
the lower income groups, where only 18% of 17-19 year-olds attend school,
compared to 63% of children from higher income groups.
Despite the high
enrollment in primary and lower secondary schools, attendance rates
are poor, with only about 70% of enrolled children attending the primary
and all age schools (grades 7 to 9) regularly. Children "dropping out"
of school or whose daily attendance is poor are generally from the lowest
income group. As a result, over half of the country's grade 6 students
fail to achieve "near mastery" on grade 6 compulsory language and math
tests.
The Government
of Jamaica's (GOJ) recent green paper "Education the Way Upward" points
out that greater access to quality education and training is imperative
if Jamaica is to compete in a global marketplace. Economic development
is unlikely to progress without significant improvements in quality
educational attainment, especially among poorer Jamaicans.
Under SO4, USAID/Jamaica
is implementing activities to improve the numeracy and literacy skills
of targeted youth between the ages of 6 and 14 years of age through
formal, school based interventions as well as activities through the
non-formal (NGO) sector focused on "at-risk' youth. The on-going activities
which support the achievement of the SO are: the New Horizons for Primary
Schools Project (NHP:1997-2004); the Uplifting Adolescents Project (UAP2:
2000-2004); and Improving Educational Quality II/Jamaica Activity (IEQII:2000-2002).
The NHP is assisting
the Ministry of Education and Culture (MOE&C;) in increasing levels of
literacy and numeracy of students in 72 project schools throughout Jamaica.
The Uplifting Adolescents Project (UAP2) is managed by a local NGO,
Peoples' Action for Community Transformation (PACT). Through PACT, USAID
will continue to provide grants to 12 NGOs to deliver a package of services,
including literacy and numeracy programs, remedial education, pre-vocational
skills training, reproductive health information, and personal and family
development skills to "at-risk" youth between the ages of 10 and 14.
The IEQII/Jamaica Project is a partnership in which the American Institutes
of Research (AIR) and the Joint Board of Teacher Education (JBTE), using
funds provided by the USAID, are responsible for the revision of the
Teacher Training College primary curricula in response to national reforms.
The overall strategy
employs a holistic approach designed to serve the needs of Jamaican
children. The ultimate customers are the targeted primary schools' 28,000
students, 800 teachers, 504 primary school board members and community
representatives, pre-service teachers and approximately 17,000 at-risk
youth. This SO contributes to the Summit of the Americas Plan of Action,
Initiative #16, and Universal Access to Education.
IR:1
Improved Quality of Teaching
Activities under
this IR are geared toward improving the quality of teaching. Teacher
quality is measured through an index made up of generally accepted standards
for determining teacher performance; content knowledge of students;
environment for student learning and teaching for student learning.
The IEQII/Jamaica Project uses an interactive and collaborative approach
with the Joint Board of Teacher Education (JBTE) to reform the primary
teacher training program to fulfil the vision for the primary school
teacher with respect to the requirements of the revised national primary
school curriculum. The project will continue to train community members,
teachers and principals in the use of the new primary school curriculum.
IR2:
Increased School Attendance
The purpose of
this indicator is to measure the extent to which project activities
influence absenteeism rates among students. Activities under this IR
will assist the Ministry of Education and Culture in improving attendance
levels in the 72 project schools. The number of teachers using incentive
strategies has increased. In addition, in the 72 project schools average
attendance has been increasing. Under the New Horizons for Primary Schools
Project, breakfast programs are being implemented in eight schools and
these schools initiated alternative funding sources with 50% success,
thereby working towards achieving the objective of self-sufficiency.
IR3:
Improved Management of Schools
The activities
under this IR support the principle of 'co-operative initiatives, community
and national partnerships' upheld by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The indicators of effective school management are the utilization of
the school management plans in regard to NHP activities together with
the utilization of the computer and accompanying administrative software,
which can speed principals' decision-making and ease reporting burdens.
USAID collaborates
with the National Council on Education (NCE) which has responsibility
for the achievement of the result of improved management of schools.
Twenty-five (25) modules for the Governance and Leadership training
have been developed and a Parent Education and Training program which
was developed is currently being implemented island-wide with the use
of a parent training manual entitled "Parents for Parents' and a "Study
Circle Kit". The 72 project schools have completed school development
plans and USAID will assist the principals to improve the quality and
the timely implementation of these plans.
IR4.4:
Number of NGOs Delivering Services to "at-risk" Youth
The purpose of
this indicator is to measure the literacy teaching standards at all
sites of the NGOs. The actual baseline results showed 22.6% in 1999.
The results from the assessment conducted by the JAMAL Foundation in
February 2000 at sixteen selected sites, revealed that the literacy
teaching standards have improved and that 53% of the sites met the required
standard. This represents 23% increase over the planned 30% during 2000.
The administrative
and technical capacities of the NGOs were also strengthened during that
period. Workshop topics included mentoring and peer counselling, reproductive
health, and operations research to share findings with other NGOs. Training
programs to foster staff development in NGOs continued in the areas
of computer training, theatrics in teaching, and training for interviewers.
USAID has instituted
several activities to track the progress of the NGOs. These include
tracer studies, monthly and quarterly meetings and semi-annual reviews.
Through UAPII, USAID working with PACT will build upon the gains made
under the initial Uplifting Adolescents Project while aiming to assist
the12 NGOs to advance to sustainability.
Special
Objective (SpO):
Improved
Economic and Social Conditions In
Targeted Inner City Communities
USAID's special
objective works within two inner city communities - Grants Pen and Standpipe
- to improve economic and social conditions. This is a "special objective"
because of its limited scope and its highly challenging and non-traditional
program design. Under this special objective USAID works with an NGO,
with community-based organizations which have successful track records
in volatile communities, and with the private sector to reduce crime
and violence and to create new employment opportunities.
The special objective
has two intermediate results.
IR1:
Increasing Employment and Entrepreneurial Opportunities
Activities under
this intermediate result are designed to create employment opportunities
for the inner city residents by such means as:
- Identifying
products and services in demand and available within these communities;
- Providing vocational
and skills training for inner city residents to meet business needs;
- Providing micro
and small business loans for purchasing raw material, making initial
salary payments, paying for piecework and/or transporting finished
product to retailer/vendors, etc.
- Providing entrepreneurs
with access to micro-enterprise lending agencies for business support
services;
- Identifying
retail outlets for the goods and services produced by new and expanded
private businesses within and around the communities.
IR2:
Improved Community Capacity for Conflict Resolution
Reducing the levels
of crime and violence in these communities will lead to citizens taking
greater pride in their community, allow residents to better organize
community events, and to attract businesses to the area. This in turn
will provide employment opportunities to the residents. This intermediate
result will seek to improve communication skills among residents, introduce
non-violent ways for residents to vet their frustrations, and work to
overcome local distrust of the police. Conflict resolution will be addressed
by such means as:
- Identifying
existing and potential community leaders who would benefit from training
in communication and conflict resolution skills;
- Developing and
promoting partnerships with residents, community based organizations,
the police, and private sector interests, to find durable solutions
to the problems of crime and violence;
- Introducing
programs and activities that will promote constructive relationships
between the residents and police; examples include community sports
competitions, collaborative youth club efforts, and other activities.
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