CUI in Jamaica

   

 

About the project

In Jamaica, CUI is implementing the Jamaica Urban Partnerships Program (J-UPP). The program supports the advancement of the country’s local government reform agenda and its participatory democracy elements - the local sustainable development planning process and the Parish Development Committee system. It works simultaneously on the national and the local (parish) levels.

On the national level, it supports the implementation of the national policy on local government reform and devolution, known as the Prototype of the Ideal Local Authority. The Prototype aims to decentralize a range of service delivery and fiscal authorities to the local government level.

On the local level, it supports the local sustainable development planning in two pilot parishes. These processes engage community stakeholders in envisioning and working together towards a better future for their parish, build the institutional capacity of the local government authorities in long-range planning and citizen engagement, and strengthen the Parish Development Committees, as representative citizen’s advisory and advocacy bodies.

 

Project Partners

• Department of Local Government
• National Association of Parish Development Committees
• Parish Councils in the pilot parishes
• Parish Development Committees in the pilot parishes

 

Country Context

Jamaica, like its neighbouring Caribbean island nations, faces some unique challenges that threaten quality of life in the long-term. The effects of the accelerating pace of climate change, increasing risk of natural disaster especially associated with storm events, exhaustion of natural capital, loss of biodiversity and deteriorating natural systems are having a huge impact on food production, water sources, energy supply, infrastructure and the livability of human settlements. There is a need to build a new sustainable prosperity by promoting local economic development that allows communities to build new forms of livelihood beyond commodities and tourism and into services and innovation. Over the past 10 years, with CUI’s support, Jamaica has been working to create its own made-in-the-Caribbean model of good local governance to tackle these challenges. This approach involves: 1) ensuring the right regional and national policy frameworks, tools, and legislation are in place, and 2) empowering local authorities and their civil society partners to address local challenges with locally-appropriate and consensus-based solutions.

 

For More Information

Key Contacts
Sam Miller
Secretary
National Association of Parish Development Committees
Tel: (876)625-9750

Website
www.manchesterpdc.org

 

    

Project undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Projet réalisé avec l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada accordé par l'entremise de l'Agence canadienne de développement international (ACDI).