The goal for USAID/Jamaica’s 2020 - 2025 Country Development Cooperation Strategy is "Through strategic partnerships, Jamaica furthers its achievement as a secure, healthy, and resilient nation." Throughout this strategy period, USAID will help Jamaica capitalize upon its advanced levels of commitment and capacity to catalyze new forms of partnership that address outstanding development challenges impeding further progress towards greater self-reliance and threatening previous achievements. Specifically, these new models and partnerships will focus on addressing Jamaica’s high rates of violent crime, ongoing HIV epidemic among targeted populations, and vulnerability to natural disasters.

The sectors of focus are unique in their potential to advance, hinder, or reverse Jamaica’s development progress. High rates of violent crime can weaken key components of Jamaica’s economy, thwart investments required for further growth, erode confidence in democratic governance, and limit the opportunities for Jamaica’s youth to achieve their full potential. Health epidemics, including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as HIV-AIDS, globally, deprive countries of resources required to address other development challenges, and natural disasters threaten to wipe away previous gains.

USAID has strategically chosen to invest in these sectors based on their potential compound effects, as well as the level of Jamaica’s commitment and capacity to address these remaining challenges. To achieve its goal, USAID will employ new models of partnership with Jamaica that leverage greater private sector and Government of Jamaica (GoJ) engagement, mobilize domestic resources, and build upon locally led initiatives. USAID will also identify and support opportunities for Jamaica to share its best practices with other Caribbean countries, thereby furthering Jamaica’s ability to play a greater leadership role within the region.

From 2020-2025, USAID will pursue a strategic transition in its assistance to Jamaica, marking a different approach and the employment of a new strategic partnership model. At the center of this shift, the Mission will emphasize support for Jamaican-led initiatives, helping to mobilize domestic resources (including the private sector’s), and changing the donor-recipient relationship.