The island has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling key public sector challenges, as it recovers from the effects of the global financial crisis, the World Bank said.

Under the Strategic Public Sector Transformation project, funds will be used to modernise the government’s capacity and effectiveness in service delivery. The project has been financed by a $35m World Bank International Bank for Reconstruction loan and a $2.64m UK Department for International Development grant.

The project will also strengthen Jamaica’s public management system and improve monitoring through citizens’ participation.

In addition, a Results-Based Budgeting scheme will be implemented to make the distribution of resources for public investment more strategic and efficient. 

Jamaica’s finance minister Peter Philips said: ‘Without public sector reform, we cannot effectively create the vibrant business environment needed to expand our economy and provide real opportunities for jobs and investment to secure our future.’

Sophie Sirtaine, World Bank country director for the Caribbean, added that the Jamaican government and its development partners were working together to help drive necessary reforms that would increase efficiency and maximise the use of available resources to create a more vibrant business environment and boost the economy.

In June, the International Monetary Fund disbursed a further $70.9m to Jamaica after finding the island was making speedy progress in implementing agreed fiscal reforms. The IMF said a gradual economic recovery was underway in Jamaica and estimated that growth would be 0.9% in 2013/14.