USAID continues to contribute to development issues and remains committed to tackling the main challenges in Jamaica.

USAID/Jamaica

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) established its Mission in Jamaica in 1962 and since that time USAID has been one of the largest bilateral donors to Jamaica, committing more than $2 billion (USD). For more than 50 years, USAID/Jamaica has consistently developed programing in partnership with the Government of Jamaica (GOJ), the private sector, civil society as well as other stakeholders and beneficiaries in order to ensure sustainable development outcomes.  Areas of investment and collaboration included: market-oriented and governance policy reforms; diversifying the economy and promoting private sector growth; conservation of natural resources; improving agricultural development; reducing population growth; and, alleviating poverty.

Current priorities of U.S. assistance in Jamaica focus on promoting greater transparency and good governance practices; fostering Jamaican participation in regional security; strengthening basic education; reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS; clean energy and decreasing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

Today, USAID continues to lead on development issues across the Caribbean region and remains committed to tackling the main challenges in Jamaica. Our work focuses on:

1. Addressing the conditions that undermine peace and security in Jamaica, by supporting citizen security programs focused on community-based policing, promoting accountability and integrity in government, strengthening the role of civil society and community organizations, and involving at-risk youth in life skills and workforce training.
2. Balancing the priorities of Global Climate Change (GCC) adaptation and mitigation (including clean energy) with the priorities of the GOJ and security needs of local communities, while contributing to enhanced livelihood opportunities for targeted Jamaican populations.
3. Supporting the GOJ’s efforts to improve early grade reading in Grades 1 to 3 in 450 of the most challenged primary and all-age schools across Jamaica.
4. Providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and civil society partners to improve the quality and scale of HIV prevention, treatment and care for key populations.