Organization of American States

Caribbean Conference on Horizontal Cooperation in

Social Protection

Discussion Paper for Panel 3: Puente in the Caribbean III: Partners’ Perspectives and Future OAS

ProgrammingScarlette Gillings, CD,

Managing DirectorJamaica Social Investment Fund

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

JSIF is one of the Government of Jamaica’s major poverty alleviation programmes

Long association with the OAS and REDLAC

Joined calls advocating for greater horizontal cooperation in poverty alleviation best practices

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

In 2003, JSIF hosted a regional workshop where the Puente Programme was showcased and strong calls made for replication in the Caribbean

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

JSIF’s mandate is to provide social and economic infrastructure in underserved communities. It addresses public poverty

Commendable success in accessing financing from bilaterals and multilaterals to carry out poverty alleviation programmes

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

Fairly impressive record in tackling public poverty350 schools115 roads21 health centres44 water supply systems

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

Working at the community level has always been considered efficient and effective to help the poor

Targeting households previously seen as time consuming and expensive. Concerns:LeakageImproper targetingdependency

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

JSIF lessons learnt are strong launching pads for household level interventions:Reduced community ownership of infrastructure

projects Less group/community involvement in the

development processPuente presented an excellent opportunity for

JSIF to expand and complement poverty alleviation thrust by zeroing in on destitute households

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

Implementation of ICBSP in 12 urban and peri-urban inner city communities

Assisting to improve physical and social environment

Physical interventionsRoads, drains, sewage systems, street lighting,

signage, multipurpose centres, green spaces

Social interventionsHomework assistance and exam preparation, summer

employment, skills training, parenting

IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCE

JSIF hosted official launch of transference of Puente in the Caribbean in June 2007

Steady progress in implementing Puente

IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCEHuman resource requirements

New skill sets, particularly psychosocialRe-training staffInstitutional analysis of core tasks

Modifications to Operations ManualAmendments to Fund Manager for

monitoring and implementation requirements

Orientation of political directorateFinancing from World Bank

SUSTAINABILITY & IMPACT

High prospects for sustainabilityGap filler for PATH and Steps To Work

Shift towards well-needed household interventions

Added dimension of psychosocial supportSanctioned by PIOJAchievement of Vision 2030 objectivesAttention from regional multilateral agenciesProspects for expansion to rural communities

END