Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project Gets Over $353 Million

Just over $353 million has been earmarked to continue the Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project’s implementation across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) during the upcoming fiscal year.

The provision is contained in the 2022/23 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on February 10, by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Dr. Nigel Clarke.

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

Programmed engagements are being carried out under five areas: Component one – the Public Investment Management System; Component two – strengthening the budget-preparation process and results-based budgeting; Component three – adaptive public-sector approaches to promote fiscal sustainability; Component four – modernising the Accountant General’s Department; and Component five – fostering industrial and trade facilitation at the Bureau of Standards Jamaica.

Notable achievements up to December 2021 include institutionalisation of the Public Investment Management Secretariat (PIMSEC) through the creation of the Public Investment Appraisal Branch (PIAB) in the Public Expenditure Division; completion of Jamaica’s first Open Government Partnership (OGP) National Action Plan; automation of 11 business processes for selected entities through the Electronic Content Management System (ECMS); and ISO management systems standards implementation support within 15 MDAs as provided by the National Quality Policy.

Activities slated for 2022/23 include the rollout of support for the Public Investment Management Information System (PIMIS) and strengthening the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) regulatory and governance mechanisms; provision of implementation assistance for the OGP National Action Plan; and continued aid for the Finance Ministry’s transformation programme.

The project, which initially ran between August 2014 and September 2020 and was extended to December 2021, is slated to continue until December 2023.

An additional $285 million has been programmed to carry out work extending into fiscal year 2023/24.

Funding is being jointly provided by the Government of Jamaica, World Bank, United Kingdom Department for International Development, and Inter-American Development Bank.