Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework to be Completed By Sept.

Work on the fourth Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF) under the country’s long-term National Development Plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica – is scheduled for completion in September.

According to Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, the latest Framework, covering the period 2018 to 2021, is in the final stages of preparation. He was speaking at the PIOJ’s recent quarterly media briefing at the Institute’s head office in New Kingston.

The PIOJ is spearheading the MTF’s development. It facilitates timely implementation of Vision 2030 Jamaica’s goals and national outcomes, and is underpinned by an extensive strategic planning and prioritisation process to guide stakeholders.

Vision 2030 Jamaica aims to reposition the island to achieve developed country status within 12 years and, in the process, make it the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.

The 2018-2021 MTF will consolidate the developmental gains to this end, recorded in the previous Frameworks covering 2009-2012, 2012-2015 and 2015-2018.

Dr. Henry advised that over 600 stakeholders from the public and private sectors, civil society organisations, international development partners, youth and children participated in the consultations hosted, which were pivotal in advancing work on the MTF.

He told journalists that the development process also took into account several other planning documents and frameworks.

These include: Cabinet priorities, the Economic Growth Council’s ‘Call to Action’; the ‘whole of Government’ business plan; the corporate and operational plans of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated targets under each; as well as the defined SDG accelerators contained in ‘Jamaica’s Road Map for the Implementation of the SDGs’.

“We note that there continues to be consensus by stakeholders on the need to undertake fundamental reforms to consolidate our macroeconomic gains over the years, improve our international competitiveness, undertake holistic development of the most vulnerable groups in our society, and strengthen the resilience of our built and natural environments,” Dr. Henry said.

He said the MTF’s priorities, which are consistent with those of the Cabinet for the medium term, are intended to move Jamaica towards ensuring a secure and prosperous future for all citizens.

Additionally, Dr. Henry said the 2018-2021 MTF will strengthen the foundations for achieving Jamaica’s long-term results, “taking into account the many opportunities that surround us, the current developmental challenges we are confronted with, and the global context.”