Govt Receives $350 Million Grant for Public Sector Transformation

The Government has received grant funding of $350 million (£1.9 million) from the United Kingdom (UK) to support the implementation of the Government’s Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project.

To be administered by the World Bank, the funds are being provided through the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).

The project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Finance and Planning, aims to strengthen public resource management and support selected public sector institutions in facilitating a more enabling environment for private sector growth.

The grant agreement was signed today (January 15), at the National Heroes Circle offices of the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The signatories were: portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips; British High Commissioner to Jamaica, David Fitton; and Acting Country Representative, World Bank, Kathy Lalazarian.

Minister Phillips said the project highlights the high priority, which the Government of Jamaica places on public sector transformation in the overall programme of economic reform.

“The programme that we have embarked upon, has begun to bear fruit, but it does involve a lot of effort still to ensure that we have an environment, which is not only reflective of fiscal prudence and the careful marshalling and monitoring of our resources, but also an environment, which is vibrant as far as doing business, and producing jobs and growth is concerned,” he said.

The Minister noted that the two priority elements for the DFID programme involves strengthening the Ministry’s public investment management system, as well as strengthening the budget preparation process, leading to results-based budgeting.

“I want to thank the United Kingdom Government and the World Bank for their support and the resources that have been lent for the other elements (of the project), including the strengthening of the property tax compliance regime, the trade facilitation component, among others,” he said.

Mr. Fitton, for his part, said the support being offered by the UK Government, “is very much a vote of confidence in what the Government of Jamaica is achieving and hoping to achieve going forward”.

“For us, it represents two elements – financing for a framework of public investments; and introducing greater budget management across the Government process,” he said.

Ms. Lalazarian said the World Bank is pleased to assist with the public sector transformation project that supports the Government’s public sector modernization efforts, “which is a catalyst for overall economic growth”.

The project is part of a larger World Bank programme of support for Jamaica

As stated in a brief provided the journalists, the Government, in implementing the project, will advance its state administration to a level that is competitive at international standards. This is being done to achieve greater economic stimulation through efficiency in the Government’s operations.

The project will also have the benefit of improving service delivery to all Jamaicans, especially the most vulnerable, and will benefit the private sector through greater ease and facilitation of business through a streamlined and accountable public sector.