USAID CBJ FY 2002: Jamaica

Summary: The focus of this objective is to generate employment by improving the business and investment environment, reduce crime and violence, and improve community relations in two inner city Kingston communities. Recent opinion polls show that unemployment is the single-most important problem in inner city communities. Lack of jobs, coupled with a lack of adequate education and training - especially among the male population - creates a vicious circle of poverty and social disorder. In addition, violent and non-violent crimes are principal deterrents to growth and investment in Jamaica. With over 800 reported murders in 1999, Jamaica has the highest per capita murder rate in the region. Inner city communities are particularly affected, with more than 50% of violent crimes concentrated in the Kingston/St. Andrew metropolitan area, which has approximately 15 inner city neighborhoods. The harsh conditions of poverty, including a lack of economic opportunities, poor housing and infrastructure, and inadequate access to quality education and health care, lure the communities' youth toward crime. In addition, drug trafficking is a major problem in these communities.

Key Results: This objective seeks to improve the economic and social conditions in the Grants Pen and Standpipe Communities. Both communities have unemployment levels and self-employment levels well above the national average, high levels of crime and violence, and proximity to moderate to vibrant commercial activity. Grants Pen is bordered on all sides by middle to upper middle class residential communities. It has an estimated population of 6,080 with almost half below the age of 19. There are about 1,400 households occupying 835 housing structures. Standpipe is a suburban community near to a large commercial area that is populated with an estimate of 1,470 persons who occupy 333 households. Approximately two-thirds of the residents are under the age of 29. The anticipated result of this special objective is to increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, and improve community capacity for conflict resolution in these two target communities. The immediate beneficiaries are the members of these communities, surrounding communities and businesses. Following a competition among Jamaican non-governmental organizations (NGOs) experienced in these communities, a lead NGO, the Kingston Restoration Company, was selected. It will develop ties not only with other NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs), but with surrounding businesses as well. It is believed that if the businesses and the communities form alliances, employment made possible under this project will continue long after the activity has officially ended.

Performance and Prospects: The targeted communities, Grants Pen and Standpipe, were extensively surveyed and residents interviewed to determine needs. Mechanisms were set up to conduct focus groups to better understand circumstances. Business people were also interviewed, and it was found that they all wanted to contribute time and effort to make the project a success. This ranged from offers to hire people from the communities, to identifying products that residents of these communities could make and sell through retail networks. As a result of these efforts, a program has been designed taking into account how to best utilize the skills and talents being offered by local business.

The program will work with qualified NGOs (particularly those with successful track records in volatile communities), private businesses, financial institutions, and government entities to create partnerships that will: 1) create and expand small and micro enterprises in the two communities, 2) improve the productive skills (technical and vocational) of residents, 3) develop a strong private sector commitment to the improvement of these communities, 4) teach residents how to resolve conflict in a non-violent manner, and 5) introduce mechanisms to reduce tension between police and residents (i.e., police youth clubs, community/police social functions and sporting events, and community/police consultative committees).

Working with NGOs, CBOs, and community youth groups, the activity will assist community residents to resolve personal conflicts, possibly by introducing alternative dispute resolution techniques. The program will also work with CBOs, police stations, NGOs, and inner city residents to facilitate the exchange of information, issues, and ideas, with the ultimate goal of improving relations and trust among community factions and strengthening the respect for rule of law. The program also allows for other donors to become involved in the program as it is implemented.

FY 2001 DA funds will be used to increase employment and entrepreneurial opportunities ($500,000). The FY 2001 ESF funds will be used to improve community capacity for conflict resolution ($500,000). FY 2002 DA funds will be used to increase employment and entrepreneurial opportunities ($500,000). The FY 2002 ESF funds will be used to improve community capacity for conflict resolution ($500,000) and to address other related democracy and governance issues.

Other Donor Programs: The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) are in the process of developing and implementing related inner city programs.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: There are currently no U.S. partners, although it is anticipated that a U.S. organization with experience in conflict resolution may be selected in the future. The principal non-U.S. organization grantee is the Kingston Restoration Company. It is anticipated that other non-U.S. NGOs will also play a role in project implementation, including: the Stella Maris Foundation, Providence Methodist Church, St. Margaret's Anglican Church, St. Patrick's Foundation, and the Dispute Resolution Foundation. The Office of the Prime Minister, through the Government of Jamaica's (GOJ's) Poverty Eradication Program, has the overall coordinating role in this area. The Planning Institute of Jamaica, within the Ministry of Finance, is the main economic and social planning agency of the government and a central player of the GOJ Inner City Renewal Project.

U.S. Financing

(In thousands of dollars)

	Obligations		Expenditures		Unliquidated
Through September 30, 1999	0	DA	0	DA	0	DA
	0	CSD	0	CSD	0	CSD
	0	ESF	0	ESF	0	ESF
	0	SEED	0	SEED	0	SEED
	0	FSA	0	FSA	0	FSA
	0	DFA	0	DFA	0	DFA
Fiscal Year 2000	500	DA	0	DA
	0	CSD	0	CSD
	500	ESF	0	ESF
	0	SEED	0	SEED
	0	FSA	0	FSA
	0	DFA	0	DFA
Through September 30, 2000	500	DA	0	DA	500	DA
	0	CSD	0	CSD	0	CSD
	500	ESF	0	ESF	500	ESF
	0	SEED	0	SEED	0	SEED
	0	FSA	0	FSA	0	FSA
	0	DFA	0	DFA	0	DFA
Prior Year Unobligated Funds*	0	DA
	0	CSD
	0	ESF
	0	SEED
	0	FSA
	0	DFA
Planned Fiscal Year 2001 NOA	500	DA
	0	CSD
	500	ESF
	0	SEED
	0	FSA
	0	DFA
Total Planned Fiscal Year 2001	500	DA
	0	CSD
	500	ESF
	0	SEED
	0	FSA
	0	DFA
			Future Obligations		Est. Total Cost
Proposed Fiscal Year 2002 NOA	500	DA	0	DA	1,500	DA
	0	CSD	0	CSD	0	CSD
	500	ESF	0	ESF	1,500	ESF
	0	SEED	0	SEED	0	SEED
	0	FSA	0	FSA	0	FSA
	0	DFA	0	DFA	0	DFA

Jamaica

Activity Data Sheet

U.S. Financing