JSIF Achievements

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund continues to make progress in improving the lives of the underserved populations throughout Jamaica, thereby taking the country a step closer to achieving the milestones set out in the country’s Vision 2030 development plan.

 While in the early days the JSIF had a strong focus on addressing basic community needs, the work of the JSIF has now evolved towards making investments aimed at economic growth; developing the youth work force; job creation and increased earnings at the micro, small and medium enterprise levels. As a result of the JSIF’s efforts, since its inception in 1996, approximately 1.4 million Jamaicans have benefitted from the completion and delivery of over 1, 687 sub-projects, spanning urban access and agricultural feeder roads, public markets, community multipurpose facilities, community health centres, basic, primary, infant and all age schools, alternative livelihood and vocational skills training, market awareness, entrepreneurial skills, job readiness , personal development, job preparation skills and literacy. Project beneficiaries also access training in personal money management, conflict resolution, anger management, parenting adolescent and adult life skills, health and hygiene behaviour change, as well as income earning agricultural and community tourism enterprises. These successes have translated into improved standards of living and access to social and economic services, thereby setting the foundation for a stronger nation.

 Sub-projects completed by the JSIF for the 2015/2016 period directly benefitted an estimated 32,000 Jamaicans; through the implementation of agriculture and agro processing related projects;  rehabilitation of urban access roads, in six inner-city communities; rehabilitation and construction of a school auditorium; rehabilitation of a recreational space, to include a hard court, football field and spectator stands; replacement of pit latrines with upgraded sanitation systems in 10 rural primary and all age schools and 1 urban All Age school, benefitting 2,009 persons;  provision of a more conducive learning environment for 4,000 students and their teachers at the early childhood and primary levels, through the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of schools; implementation of 27 summer camp Programmes that engaged approximately 2, 000 participants, and skills training delivery to 148 at-risk and unattached youths.