Jamaica

This Country Strategy Paper (CSP) presents the framework for EU cooperation with Jamaica over the period 2008-2013. The CSP is in line with the Government of Jamaica's (GoJ) national development strategy which is detailed in the Medium-Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF). The MTF is based on four pillars: 1) Maintaining macro-economic stability and growth; 2) Ensuring that growth is inclusive and that the poor adequately benefit, including enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of social safety nets; 3) Improving governance, efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector; and 4) Ensuring sustainable development, including stimulating sustainable agriculture and tourism.

Some of the most important challenges facing Jamaica include sustaining growth by consolidating the macro-economic reforms begun by GoJ, including the continued implementation of a tight fiscal policy and reduction of public debt. By maintaining this policy, Jamaica should see a continuing decline in interest rates and acceleration in investment. However, continuing the strict fiscal policy will continue to put strong pressure on expenditure on social programmes such as education, crime and justice and will require more emphasis on the effective implementation of such programmes, including effective delivery methods involving community participation.

Growth in Jamaica in the coming years will be tied to Jamaica’s competitiveness in the global economy. Realising growth and global competitiveness requires, among other things, improving the educational outcomes, productivity and skills of its population. A further constraint on growth and development is the prevailing crime situation, fuelled in part by the concentration of poverty in specific areas. Another emerging challenge related to the crime issue is the need to satisfy the demand for justice as a means of achieving social cohesion and thus create the conditions for attracting more investment.

The EU response has been drawn up on the basis of these challenges, the government’s development strategy, the programmes of other international development partners, and discussions with representatives of civil society. Taking into account the EU’s comparative advantages and strengths, the focus of the National Indicative Programme will be on the following areas of support: