PIOJ to Undertake Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan Evaluation

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has announced a comprehensive evaluation of the Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan.

Vision 2030 Jamaica is the country’s first long-term strategic development plan, covering the 21-year period, 2009-2030.

It embodies the plans and processes for the realisation of a collective vision, encapsulated in the statement: ‘Jamaica, the Place of Choice to Live, Work, Raise Families and Do Business’.

The Plan is geared towards engaging citizens and development partners in the process to achieve and benefit from sustainable and inclusive development.

According to the PIOJ, the achievement of the Four Goals and 15 National Outcomes will result in a vibrant and internationally competitive economy, a secure and cohesive society, a healthy natural environment, a high level of human capital development, and greater opportunities for social and economic mobility and prosperity.

The comprehensive evaluation of the development plan was launched during Friday’s (February 14) Vision 2030 ‘Love Jamaica Fest’, at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston, under the theme ‘Jamaica, My Valentine’.

Vision 2030 Programme Director, Peisha Bryan-Lee, who spoke during the event, explained that the exercise will provide systematic evidence regarding what is happening with the development process.

“One of the important things to note is that the evaluation is not about problem identification. That’s not the core of it; we’re not looking for problems; we’re looking for solutions,” she said.

Mrs. Bryan-Lee noted that the Vision 2030 evaluation will commence with a stakeholder mapping exercise.

“The stakeholder mapping exercise is important because the PIOJ needs to know, first and foremost, who we are as a people. For example, with senior citizens, our population is aging… what does that group look like? Do these senior citizens have their groupings, what do they do in their groupings and do our senior citizens want to re-enter the workforce?” she stated.

The Programme Director said assessments will also be undertaken of the various cultural groupings across the island and in the diaspora.

“Vision 2030 Jamaica is people-centred, so we’re going to look at every age. We’re going to go across the country and look at every Jamaican, including speaking to the diaspora. They may not live here but Jamaicans overseas are a big part of our country,” she added.

Mrs. Bryan-Lee, who advised that the stakeholder mapping exercise will start with the youth, said further details about the Vision 2030 evaluation will be provided once discussions with technical stakeholders have concluded.