Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr Wayne Henry (centre), addresses the PIOJ’s quarterly media briefing on Wednesday (February 20) at the agency’s head office in New Kingston. Listening (from left) are Senior Director for the Institute’s Economic Planning, Research and Policy Logistics Division, James Stewart; and Project Manager, Foundation for Competitiveness and Growth, Melvin Smith.

IMPLEMENTATION of the Government’s development strategy will be further boosted in the new fiscal year with an additional $13.7 million.

The sum is set aside in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

The six-year Technical Cooperation Facility V, which commenced in November 2014, is designed to identify, formulate, and implement activities financed under the European Development Fund and other European Union (EU) funds.

These will incorporate funding for studies and other technical assistance; audits and evaluations; and increased understanding of project management, development and cross-cutting issues by key stakeholders, including non-state parties.

Among the achievements, up to December 2018, is the engagement of consultants to support several key organisations and engagements.

These include: the Office of the National Authorising Officer of the Government of Jamaica-European Union Programme, and the National Authorising Officer; the Public Finance Reform Programme; the National Population Policy’s revision; the National Forestry Management Conservation Plan’s development; and the Programme for the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality’s implementation.

Among the programmed activities for 2019/20 is continued implementation of the technical assistance contract for support to the Office of the National Authorising Officer.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-13-7-million-to-implement-development-strategy_158030