GFA SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE EVALUATION OF THE POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME IV IN JAMAICA

Jamaica is an island known for the strength and resilience of its people, but it also faces deep-rooted problems of crime and violence, often linked to poverty. These problems have created disadvantaged and marginalized communities throughout the country.

For many years, the EU has supported Jamaica in its efforts to reduce poverty. In 2024, GFA completed an ex-post evaluation with the assistance of two short-term experts. The objective of the evaluation was to provide the European Union, as client, and interested stakeholders with an overall independent assessment of the performance of the Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP) IV, key lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations for future interventions.

In particular, the evaluation focused on the extent to which PRP IV achieved its expected results, particularly in terms of improved access to education, health, security and behavior change services, as well as the program's impact on income generation and employment opportunities, and increased participation of residents in community development initiatives. In addition, the evaluation specifically analyzed how PRP IV contributed to better coordination of social intervention initiatives in the communities.

The evaluation assessed the results of  PRP IV with three main objectives: to determine whether the project achieved the expected results and whether these results were sustainable; to identify lessons that could be applied to other EU interventions sector in Jamaica and across the region; and to ensure accountability for the use of EU funds in achieving the results of the PRP IV project.