The United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for implementing
America's foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs. It
helps countries like Jamaica achieve sustainable development and simultaneously
supports US national interests in such vital areas as democracy and
good governance, environmental protection, economic development and
trade, and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. USAID has operated
a bilateral mission in Kingston, Jamaica, since 1962. Kingston is headquarters
for USAID's Caribbean Regional Program.
USAID has been
the largest single bilateral donor to Jamaica. Since 1962, it has provided
almost US$2 billion in development assistance and economic (balance
of payments) support funds. It has also furnished food aid valued at
over $533 million and a granted "Debt for Environment" swap in 1991-92
which improved environmental management practices and reduced Jamaica's
debt by $311 million.
Among USAID's achievements
in Jamaica have been successful NGO and governmental partnerships which
have reduced environmental degradation, strengthened primary education,
improved public health, and encouraged economic growth. With USAID's
assistance over the past three decades, Jamaica has sharply reduced
its levels of poverty, lowered its infant and maternal-child mortality
rates, attained universal access to primary education, and increased
its parks and protected areas.
USAID will continue
its substantial investment of funds, technical assistance and training
under a new five-year strategy. The budget projection for the 2000 to
2005 strategy period is about $13.5 million a year, and is focused on
five "strategic objectives":
- Improving the
Business Environment for Developing the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise
(SMME) Sectors;
- Improving the
Quality of Key Natural Resources in Selected Areas that are both Environmentally
and Economically Significant;
- Improving Reproductive
Health of Youth;
- Increasing Literacy
and Numeracy Among Jamaican Youth; and
- Improving the
Economic and Social Conditions in Targeted Inner City Communities.
These strategic
objectives build on past investments, and represent greater focus and
accountability.
Economic
Growth
USAID's program supports broad-based economic growth by reducing regulatory
constraints to doing business in Jamaica, improving the skills of selected
Jamaican businesses to better allow them to compete in the global economy,
and promoting increased private sector financing to the micro and small
business sectors.
Natural
Resource Management
USAID's response
to environmental threats is seen in an integrated "Ridge-to Reef"
natural resource management program that assists community-based NGOs
to implement activities, i.e. agroforestry, eco-tourism, appropriate
on-site sanitation solutions and environmental audit programs, that
can improve the quality of coastal waters and upland watersheds. Other
interventions focus on improving the policy framework and wastewater/sewage
management.
Adolescent
Reproductive Health
USAID's effort to improve reproductive health concentrates on Jamaica's
high-risk adolescent population. Assistance is aimed at increasing availability
and access to youth-friendly reproductive health services; developing
and disseminating educational materials and innovative approaches to
encourage changes in high-risk behaviors; improving the clinical and
interpersonal skills of health workers; and strengthening reproductive
health policies.
Basic
Education
USAID's education
strategy builds on past experience in that sector. It seeks sustainable
improvements in literacy and numeracy among primary school students
and out-of-school youth. At the primary school level, USAID provides
72 schools in poor communities with teacher training in mathematics
and reading, parent education, health and nutrition programs, and leadership
training for school principals, communities and parents.
To improve the
prospects of Jamaica's estimated 110,000 young people between the ages
of 12 and 24 living in poverty, USAID's youth at risk program supports
NGO services that are designed to promote self-esteem, reduce teenage
pregnancy and HIV/AIDS/STDs, increase literacy and re-instate "drop-outs"
into schools.
Inner
Cities Program
To help reduce crime and violence and create an avenue for employment
among inner city residents, USAID is collaborating with the private
and public sector and with residents of the Grants Pen and Standpipe
communities to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities
in these inner city communities. USAID is also providing assistance
in conflict resolution and in reducing crime within these communities.
As noted above,
Kingston is also headquarters for USAID's new five-year $30 million
Caribbean Regional Program. The regional program is managed under a
grant agreement with CARICOM and though region-wide in scope, has a
special focus on the Eastern Caribbean. This regional program has three
strategic objectives:
- Increased employment
and diversification in select non-traditional activities;
- Improved environmental
management by public and private entities; and
- Increased effectiveness
and efficiency of legal systems in the Caribbean.
In addition, as
a result of the damages caused by Hurricanes Georges and Lenny in 1998
and 1999, respectively, USAID is implementing a Hurricane Georges (US$3.5
million) and Lenny (US$5.1 million) recovery and reconstruction programs
in the Eastern Caribbean that involve infrastructure repair, training
and technical assistance.
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