Work to Continue on National Policy on International Migration

A total of $14.6 million has been budgeted by the government to continue work on the National Policy and Plan of Action on International Migration and Development, this year.

The allocation is contained in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on April 3.

Several activities are anticipated to take place this year under the project, being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

These include: policy approval by Cabinet; development of an Implementation Plan, and Monitoring and Evaluation System for the Policy; and the staging of several workshops.

All of these are expected to significantly advance the project’s objectives, which include: building the capacity of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to implement the National Plan of Action on Migration and Development; facilitate and ensure public ownership of, and participation in the Plan’s implementation; execution of priority area provisions; and formulation of a Diaspora Policy.

The project, which commenced in May 2011, has seen the establishment of a National Working Group on International Migration and Development, and eight sub-committees, as well as a situational analysis being developed.

The engagement, which initially ran for 19 months, was extended for another 60 months in January 2013, until December 2017.

Financing is being provided by the Government of Jamaica, and grant funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).