Government of Jamaica
History
A short timeline of the history of the Planning Institute of Jamaica
1955
The Central Planning Unit (CPU)
In 1955, the government created the CPU, which reported directly to the Office of the Premier at East Heroes Circle. The role of the CPU was to collate and analyse available economic data to help advise the government. The CPU crafted the first National Plan (1957–1967) using data from the Department of Statistics, the Industrial Development Corporation, the Economics Division of the Ministry of Finance, and the Economics Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.
1958
CPU published the first Economic Survey of Jamaica.
1959
The CPU was involved in a wide variety of matters as new programmes were designed and new institutions created. These included the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) a state-owned broadcasting company; Youth Camps and the Community Development Programme.
1961
The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) was formed and became another leading source of data for the Central Planning Unit.
1962
Prepared the country’s first Five-Year Plan 1963–1968.
1970
Prepared the second Five-Year Plan (1970–1975), focusing on human development, with measures on improving the quality and distribution of social services such as health, housing, education and training, and amenities such as roads, bridges, water and other public utilities.
1972
A review of the scope of work of the CPU led to the establishment of the National Planning Agency (NPA). The main areas of focus were: social planning, with an emphasis on manpower planning; sectoral issues; and a new role was added, the management of external technical cooperation.
1974
The third Five-Year Development Plan (1978–1982) was completed after consultations with stakeholders to establish a workable framework for economic growth. Two key components were: the need for an export expansion drive; and an emphasis on agriculture.
1984
The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) was created by statute and given a broader mandate to strengthen the management capability of the government. Among the first initiatives was the creation of an early warning system for the economy, which relied on continuous monitoring of economic performance in order to determine problems that inhibited growth and frustrated the realisation of performance targets.
A comprehensive Manpower Plan was developed to respond to the planning goals and labour needs of the country, and to address unemployment.
National Population Policy developed along with the UNFPA and NFPB
The first Quarterly Economic Report (QER) was published, capturing economic activities.
1989
The government entrusted the preparation of all technical assistance projects to the PIOJ, making Project Planning and Development integral to the work of the Institute. The PIOJ appraised projects at the idea phase of the project planning cycle and ensured that national decisions were made at each stage of the project.
The Social Well-Being Programme was revised into the Human Resource Development Programme, focusing on rehabilitating and improving basic social services in Health and Education. The World Bank and other external agencies provided funding.
The first Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) based on household survey was produced jointly by the PIOJ and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).
The first publication of Jamaica People a newsletter about population issues was published in July 1989.
To strengthen the economic management programme and forecasting ability for macro-economic models were introduced.
An Agricultural Index designed to estimate the levels of production in the agricultural sector was tested and completed.
1990
The Institute presented the National Five-Year Development Plan (1990–1995) focusing on global issues, the productive sector, social dimensions and physical infrastructure.
A National Forestry Action Plan was also completed.
Special Projects Unit was formed to manage, coordinate and monitor special projects funded by external donor Governments/Agencies and the GOJ.
1991
The Labour Market Information Newsletter was first published.
A new macroeconomic model was designed with a Neo-Keyesian framework was added to the Institute’s modelling capacity. This model enables the Institute to give more accurate forecasts of major economic trend.
1992
The National Planning Council Secretariat (NPC) was transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the PIOJ. The NPC includes representatives from the Government, Trade Unions and the Private Sector and is responsible for giving policy advice to the government on social and economic development.
The formulation of the National Industrial Policy targeted primarily at specific sectors and a World Bank Private Sector Development Adjustment Loan was negotiated.
1993
Government undertook a Reform Agenda, resulting in the following operations being included in the work of the PIOJ:
The Flood Damage Rehabilitation Unit was transferred to the PIOJ focusing on the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, drains, rivers and gullies damaged by the flood rains of 1993.
1994
A Non-Governmental Organization Desk was established to facilitate collaboration between the government and non-governmental organizations in the process of nation building.
The Social and Research Policy Unit was established.
The Computable General Equilibrium Macroeconomic Model to help evaluate the impact of policies and policy options on areas of the economy was formulated.
Development of a broad-based Industrial Policy for the Jamaican economy.
1996
The more reader-friendly Economic Update and Outlook (EU&O) replaced the Quarterly Economic Report (QER).
1997
Completed and submitted to Cabinet for approval the National Poverty Eradication Programme and the National Poverty Eradication Policy.
The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) was also formulated to deliver basic services and infrastructure to the poor.
The National Policy on Children, Gender and Social Equity was developed and presented to Parliament.
1998
The National Environmental Plan was updated in collaboration with the National Conservation Resources Authority. This Plan sought to identify Jamaica’s environmental priorities, as well as to address the country’s environmental issues.
The Medium Term Policy Framework document for 1999/2000–2001/02. The document included social and macroeconomic policy objectives and strategies to attain them.
2000
The Jamaica Human Development Report (JHDR) was completed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.
The Medium Term Framework (MTF) for 2000–2003 was completed.
2001
The first Dialogue for Development Series was held with the inaugural lecture “Jamaica: from Creative Adaptation to Sustainable Transformation”. This was to engage civil society in dialogue to get their participation in matters relating to economic and social development.
The Social Safety Net Programme, designed to benefit the nation’s most vulnerable citizens, received increased focus.
Action Plan (2000–2004) for the Inner City Renewal Programme was created.
2002
The PIOJ began reporting quarterly to the public on the performance of the macro-economy and real sector through press briefings. The briefings are held six weeks after the end of each quarter, and includes information on the performance of the Goods Producing industry and the Services Industry.
The Sustainable Development Unit was established.
2004
The PIOJ led the drafting and production of the first Medium-Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework, (MTSEPF) 2004–2007 that outlines the macroeconomic and social indicators and targets to be achieved within that timeframe and was adopted by the government.
2005
The PIOJ commemorated its 50th anniversary under the theme, “Planning Today….Securing Tomorrow”.
2006
Consultations began for the first long-term National Development Plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica.
2008
PIOJ acquired its own property at 16 Oxford Road.
The 50th anniversary of the Economic & Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ), the PIOJ’s flagship publication, and the 20th anniversary of the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC). The latter was marked by a conference and lecture entitled “The Conversation Between Statistics and Social Policy: When We Listen, When We Don’t”, delivered by Professor Patricia Anderson.
2009
Vision 2030 Jamaica – National Development Plan was tabled in Parliament, providing the nation with the road map to achieve developed country status by 2030. To be more specific, the vision is, to make “Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.” An accompanying document the Medium Term Socio-Economic Framework 2009-2012 is the frame of reference for implementing the plan, and for keeping the country’s programmes and activities more aligned to the national budget
The Institute developed a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to analyse the impact of tax reform; a Debt Dynamics Model to assess fiscal and monetary impact; and embarked on the development of a Pension Reform Simulation Toolkit (PROST), with technical input from the World Bank.
2010
The popular version of Vision 2030 Jamaica was completed.
The Human Development Report was produced.
2011
The Growth Inducement Strategy (GIS) for the GOJ and accompanying documents were added to Vision 2030 Jamaica, outlining strategies to facilitate growth in the short and medium term. The GIS was instrumental in the development of strategic climate change related projects. This led to the endorsement of the strategic programme for climate resilience and the programme concept Enhancing the Resilient of the Agricultural Sector and Coastal Areas to Protect Livelihood and Improve Food Security by the Adaptation Fund Board.
The Community Renewal Programme (CRP), which targets the 100 most vulnerable communities across the island for intervention.
Establishment of Migration Policy Project Unit.
2012
Cabinet approved the establishment of a Poverty Reduction Coordinating Unit at the PIOJ.
Government approved the establishment of the Growth Secretariat to ensure successful implementation of the priority reforms and major investment projects.
Played a key role in the formation of Public Investment Management System (PIMS) charged with streamlining the preparation, appraisal, approval and management of al Government projects.
2013
The Medium Term Socio-Economic Framework for 2012/13 – 2014/15 was approved by Cabinet.
The Growth Secretariat became operational and supported the coordination, implementation and monitoring of various components of the government’s Growth Strategy.
Completion of the Comprehensive Report on Jamaica’s progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Development of a Comprehensive Social Protection Strategy for Jamaica.
2014
The Social Protection Strategy was launched with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security under the GOJ/World Bank.
The Foundations for Competitiveness & Growth Project became operational with funding from the World Bank and was geared towards strengthening the business environment in Jamaica to receive private sector investment.
Complete National Policy and Plan of Action on International Migration and Development.
Establishment of Growth Agenda Sub-Committee of Cabinet (GASC) with Ministry of Finance as Chair to develop growth initiatives and monitor the implementation of reforms and strategic investment projects of the Growth agenda.
2015
The Growth Agenda Policy Paper, which outlined the priority actions and institutional framework to support the efficient and effective implementation and monitoring of the government’s Growth Agenda in the medium term, was tabled in Parliament.
The Medium Term Framework (MTF) for 2015–2018 was completed and approved by Cabinet.
2016
A report entitled the Findings of the School-to-Work Transition of the Deaf in Jamaica study was completed.
A draft Cabinet Submission and Concept Note on the National Policy for Senior Citizens was completed for tabling in Cabinet
2017
National Policy on International Migration and Development and the National Policy on Poverty and National Policy Reduction Programme were approved by Cabinet.
The PIOJ provided support for the University of the West Indies (UWI) Climate Studies Group’s report entitled 2015 State of the Jamaican Climate Report.
2018
The third Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework for 2018–2021 was published, incorporating Global Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.