The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) continues to be guided by Vision 2030 and has focused on projects designed to contribute to achieving those goals.
These were implemented through projects valued at J$1.9 billion in the last fiscal year, Scarlette Gillings, JSIF managing director, revealed at the annual general meeting of the fund recently.
Gillings said despite the continued fiscal constraints, 74 sub-projects were completed during 2013-2014 under nine project portfolio areas.
She said that expenditure for the financial year under review reflected heavy investment in inner-city renewal, evidenced by three projects – the inner-city Basic Services Project, the Poverty Reduction Project II and the close out of the Jamaica Social Development Fund Grant that focused exclusively on volatile and vulnerable communities – accounting for 46 per cent of total sub-project disbursements.
“There was also strong emphasis on rural development, evidenced by the Rural Economic Development Initiative, Community Investment Project and the Basic Needs Trust Fund six projects, which accounted for 29 per cent of project disbursements,” she stated.
In the fiscal year 2013-14, JSIF also oversaw the completion of five projects which, over an eight-year span, collectively disbursed more than J$5.2 billion that directly benefited over 129,900 underserved persons in selected communities across the island.
Strong support
Gillings further noted that the current JSIF portfolio strongly supports the GOJ’s strategic priorities to 2015-2016, under the four priority areas: job creation and economic growth; improved security and safety; human capital development and effective social inclusion.
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Vision 2030 inspires J$5-billion investment
