Processes, Lessons Learnt and Institutional Context of Jamaica Social Protection in the Caribbean:

Processes, Lessons Learnt and Institutional Context of Jamaica

Social Protection in the Caribbean:

The Jamaican The Jamaican National ContextNational Context

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NATIONAL STATISTICS

Population: 2,607,632. (STATIN) (2001)

Unemployment Rate: 9.6% October 2006

Inflation Rate April 2006 – April 2007 +6.1%

GDP $9.23 Billion (2006 Est.)

Per Capita Income US$$3,700 (2001)

DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS Human Development Index value:

0.724 Life Expectancy:70.4 years Combined gross enrollment for

primary secondary and tertiary schools (%): 76.9

Enrolment at the primary level (%): 91 (2004)

Fertility Rate: 2.4 (2000 – 2005) HIV Prevalence (% ages 15 – 49

years): 1.5 (2005) Literacy Rate (%): 79.9 (2004) Earned income of female:

US$3,027 Earned Income of male: US$5,327

Source:Human Development Report, 2006, UNDP, http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_JAM.html

Jamaica Poverty Indicators National Poverty head

count as a percentage of population: 18.7%

Rural Poverty Head Count as a percentage of population: 25.1%

Urban Poverty Head Count as a percentage of population: 12.8%

Source:Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, March 2006, http://www.fao.org/faostat/foodsecurity/Countries/EN/Jamaica_e.pdf

Gender and Poverty in Jamaica

In 2000, mean household size of the poorest quintile was 5.3 and 2.2 in the richest. (PIOJ, Survey of Living Conditions (SLC) 2000)

Of the total number of individuals living below the poverty line, 50.7% are males and 49.3% females. (PIOJ, Survey of Living Conditions (SLC) 1999)

Females head approximately 42.1 per cent of the total number of households. In general these households have higher mean numbers of children and adult females than male-headed households, and also have relatively low consumption status. (ibid.)

According to the SLC 1998, of the number of single parent households living in poverty, 66.1% are headed by females with only 33.9% being headed by males.

Over 60% of University graduates in Jamaica are women. (King, 1998)

REPORT ON MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (PIOJ, 2004)

REPORT ON MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (cont’d)

JAMAICA’S RESPONSE TO POVERTY

The National Poverty Eradication Programme

Major Impacts on Jamaican PovertyOil Crisis of 1970’s which heralded debt crisis of the

90’sStandard of living negatively affected by structural

adjustment policiesFinancial Crisis of the 90’sRising debt and reduced Capital expenditure ceilings

(0.76c per J$1.00 is paid in debt)

The NPEP was developed in 1995 with 3 broad objectives:Promote Economic growth and social

developmentReduce the number of persons below the

poverty line in targeted communitiesEradicate Absolute Poverty in the long run

The National Poverty Eradication Programme (NPEP)

The NPEP sought to achieve two main objectives:

Introduce policy and institutional framework for the wide array of initiatives that address poverty

Bring socio economic coordination and cohesiveness

The Guiding principles of the NPEP are:IntegrationCommunity Based DevelopmentPartnership Sustainability

Visit the site @ www.npep.org.jm


Principal Areas of the NPEP:Welfare SectorEducation SectorHealth SectorInfrastructureHousing SectorLabor MarketAgricultural SectorBroad based ProgrammeNon Government Organization Sector


1. Geographic targeting / Integrated Community Development

2. Unemployed Youth and families with children in Low - income Groups

3. Safety Nets / Income Transfers4. Building the “Enabling Environment”

The Priorities are:

Institutional Mapping

General PopulationLine Ministry/ Organisation

Programmes Areas of Focus Intended Beneficiaries

Strengths

GOVERNMENT

Health 1. Public Health Services

2. National Health Fund

3. Jamaica HIV/STI Prevention and Programme

1. Health centres and hospitals

2. Regular check ups and medical attention for affected

1. All Jamaicans

Services available in most communities

Education and Youth

1. Life Long Learning

2. HISEP3. HEART/NTA

1. Remedial Education

2. High School Diplomas

3. Skills training

1. Illiterate adults

2. High School Drop-outs

3. School leavers 17 years

To provide a cadre of literate workers for labour force

Wide variety of skills /job placement

Labour and Social Security

1. PATH2. NIS

1. Conditional cash transfer

2. Financial protection to workers and their families

1. Vulnerable families

Office of the Prime Minister /Cabinet

1. SESP2. NHT3. ODPEM

1. Goods and services for the needy

2. Housing solution3. Disaster

preparedness and relief

1. Destitute families

2. All eligible Jamaicans

General PopulationLine Ministry/ Organisation

Programmes Areas of Focus

Intended Beneficiaries

Strengths

NON – GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS Food for the Poor Goods and

services1. Provide homes2. Medical care 3. Food for

schools4. School

furniture

All underserved people

Efficient distribution system throughout the island

ADRA Emergency relief before and after natural disaster

1. Encourage proactive attitude towards hurricane preparedness

2. Empowerment towards self care

3. Quality response team

4. Counselling

People affected by natural disaster

Network of volunteers across the island

Service Organisations (Optimist, Rotaract Clubs)

Goods and services including advocacy

1. Encourage proactive attitude towards hurricane preparedness

2. Empowerment towards self care

3. Quality response team

4. Counselling

Persons in need Display good corporate services responsibility

Children Line Ministry/ Organisation



Strengths

GOVERNMENTHealth 1. Pubic Health

Services2. CDA

Health fees and similar costs waved within public institution except UHWI

Children 0 – 17 years

Free Health care services since May 2007

Education and Youth

1. JPSco’ School Feeding Programme

Proper nutrition for learning

Needy children in basic school across the island

Implemented March 2004.serves more 180 children in 14 parishes


ILO - IPEC Withdraw children from hazardous work and prevent others from joining the workforce

Child labourers Ability to strengthen Jamaica’s capacity to eliminate child labour

ChildrenLine Ministry/ Organisation



Strengths

NON – GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONMustard Seed 1. Housing

projects2. Community

projects 3. Economic

projects4. Homes for

pregnant teenagers

Protection of the most defenceless in any community

Abandoned and handicapped children

Cares for over 22o children in Jamaica, Nicaragua, Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Children First 1. Educational 2. Recreational

Improve life chance of children at risk and enhance the possibility of them making positive contribution to society

Street children and children with

Serve approximately 620 children ages 3-18Largest of its kind in Jamaica

UNICEF 1. Children and violence

2. Children rights

The rights of children

Children in need International network

Youth at RiskLine Ministry/ Organisation



Strengths

GOVERNMENT

Health Adolescents Reproductive Health

Sexual health Adolescents

Education and Youth

1. National Youth Service

2. JAMVAT3. HEART Trust

NTA

Internship and job experience

1. Adolescents2. Tertiary

students

Availability of community based Programme


1. LMIS 1. General information and Data Analysis

2. Electronic Labour Exchange

3. Related Services

1. Secondary and tertiary students

2. Programme developers

3. Job seekers among others

Capacity to facilitate oversees employment

Office of the Prime Minister /Cabinet

1. CSI 1. Violence reduction

2. Job experience and internship

3. Scholarships

Adolescents and unattached youth

Human Resource capacity

Youth at RiskLine Ministry/ Organisation



Strengths

NON - GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION

JSDN 1. Youth Inclusion through ICT

2. Training for disadvantaged youth

Information dissemination to support sustainable development

Inner city un-employed youth ages 17 -25

Facilitating communication between public private and NGOs to local and international sources of information on sustainable development

YOU 1. Parenting education

2. Mentoring 3. Career

Guidance4. Advocacy and

Public Education

Education Adolescents Over 2000 adolescents from 21 cooperate area school registered

UNICEF 1. HIV/AIDS2. Sexual

education

1. Reproductive/ Sexual health

1. Youth with disabilities

2. Youth

1. International funding

JAS for Life 1. Distribute packages

2. Distribute Medication

3. Provide Referrals

1. HIV/AIDS Support

1. People living with HIV/AIDS

1. Assistance to poor persons in need

Women at RiskLine Ministry/ Organisation



Strengths

GOVERNMENT

Health PMTCT Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/STI

Pregnant and lactating women

Mother to child transmission reduced from 25% - 5%


Women’s Crisis Centre

1. Eradicate violence against women

Teenage mothers and victimised/abused women

1. Support island wide

2. Boost self esteem and empowerment for motherhood

National Security

CISOCA Prevention of sexual violence across Jamaica

Battered women and girls

Centres established island wide 120 trained staff

Women at RiskLine Ministry/ Organisation



Strengths

NON – GOVERMENTAL ORGANISATION

Women Inc 1. Crisis centre 2. Shelter

Promote welfare of women

Abused women Availability of 24 hrs telephone hotline to women and young girls

YWCA 1. Housing for Women

2. Rural Family Support Organisation

1. Shelter for women in need

2. Family life education

1. Battered women

2. Teen-age mothers

Success in the recruitment and retention of street children

WROC 1. Clinics2. Counselling3. Charities 4. Research

programmes

Sexual violence against women and girls

Abused women

Jamaica-Kidz

PACT Trafficking in persons

Young women 14 -24 years

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund

Investing for Community Development

BACKGROUND The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF)

was established in December 1996.The JSIF is an autonomous government

company designed to provide investments in community based projects island-wide.

MANDATEAddress some of the most pressing socio-

economic needs of the poorest communities.

Channel resources to small scale community based projects.

Assist in empowering communities through participation.

AREAS OF INTERVENTION

The JSIF promotes, appraises, finances and supervises sub-projects in the following areas:

1. Social Infrastructure 2. Economic Infrastructure3. Social Services4. Organisational Strengthening

The Jamaica Social Investment FundLine Ministry/ Organisation

Project Areas of Focus


Strengths

Ministry of Finance

1. BNTF2. NCDP3. EUPRP4. ICBSP

Social and economic infrastructure

1. Women2. Children3. Young

adults4. Persons

with disabilities

5. Senior citizens

6. Inner city Jamaicans

Building social capitalCommunity participation in community development

Structure of Government (Influence and Contact

Diagram) 1

Government of Jamaica

2PARLIAMENT

CABINET

3 MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND PLANNING

4 JAMAICA SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND

5 Board of Directors

6 Managing Director

Managers

7

ICBSP EUPRP NCDP BNTF

8 Demand Driven Community Based Contracting

Pre-selected

9 TARGETED POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES

Approved JSIF investmentsType Total Cost Number Roads $1,626,180,464 152Schools $1,812,491,322 388Community Centres & other Community Spaces

$316,066,722 57

Water and Sanitation $534,426,141 72Homes for Children and the Elderly

$65,426,141 25

Organisational Strengthening

$94,016,654 106

Health Centres $146,024,951 22Other $687,918,193 155

Total $5,282,963,481 977

The Registry System

The Jamaican Context

Registrar GeneralResponsible for registration of:

birthsFoetal deaths/Still birthsDeathsMarriages

Government Programmes Each sub programme has own unique

system of registration however we will focus on two main programmes:

Programme Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH)

National Insurance Scheme (NIS)

Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education

To become a registered beneficiary one must:

Be a qualified applicant A Proxy Means Test for Jamaica –

developed by the Government of Jamaica for selection of beneficiaries under PATH and will be eventually used for other social programmes

Registration continued... Submit all the required

documentation Children under 17 years of age

Birth Certificate A affidavit from a Justice of the

Peace or Minister of Religion

Adults 18 years and over Birth certificate, passport, voter’s

identification or driver’s liscence or any other valid identification showing date of birth

All family members Food stamp registration card, (if any) Poor relief registration card (if any)

Qualified education applicants Certification that the applicant is

currently registered, from the school principal

Qualified Pregnant and lactating applicants Certification from a doctor or nurse

of a public hospital or health centre, stating that the applicant is pregnant or lactating and the expected (or occurred) date of delivery.

Qualified Disability applicants Certification from a doctor or the

National Council for Persons with Disabilities, or nurse of a hospital or health centre, stating that the applicant is currently and permanently disabled and the nature of disability.

.../ ComplianceAttend

enrolment /verification Qualified applicants are

invited through letters to attend designated locations for enrolment

Take along the proper documentation as stated above

Sign the contract letter

All beneficiaries of PATH are required to comply with the health and educational conditionalities:HEALTH

register in a Government Health Centre and maintain a prescribed schedule of visits

EDUCATIONchildren must be

registered in schools and maintain a school attendance record of a minimum of 85% of the number of days that the school is open per month

Value of PATH BenefitsThe value of the benefits is as follows:

1. J$300.00 per month in year 12. J$375.00 per month in Year 23. J$500.00 per month in Year 3 and

subsequent years

National Insurance Scheme (NIS) A compulsory contributory funded social

security scheme that offers financial protection to the worker and his family against loss of income arising from injury on the job, incapacity, retirement and death of the insured. NIS is governed by the National Insurance Act and Regulations, and administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through its network

of 13 parish offices

Registering under the Scheme Every person 18 years and above is required to register Males should be between the ages of 18 and 65 years Females between 18 and 60 years. Insurable Ministry maintains a Life Record that comprises of :

The insured's national insurance numberThe insured's nameThe employer(s) name and reference number(s) The number of weeks workedThe joint employee/employer contributions

Why contribute to the NIS Compulsory contributory

social security system stipulated by the National Insurance Act and Regulations, 1965

Payment of contributions makes the contributor or his/her beneficiary eligible for benefits under the scheme

The total number of weekly contributions determines the level of benefits paid at retirement or during his/her lifetime

Benefits of the scheme:

Retirement Widow/Widowers InvaliditySpecial childOrphanEmployment injuryAnniversary

pensionersFuneral grants

“One-One cocoa full basket”

Programmes are many and varied fulfilling the goals

and objectives of NPEP. No one programme will meet all the needs for assistance and

services however, collectively and if properly coordinated they may be able to successfully do so.

Documents

Processes, Lessons Learnt and Institutional Context of Jamaica Social Protection in the Caribbean: