The Government and the World Bank on Tuesday signed a US$20-million loan agreement to support the Jamaica Social Protection for Increased Resilience and Opportunities (SPIRO) Project.

The SPIRO Project, which is set to conclude on January 31, 2030, aims to increase Jamaica’s social protection coverage by establishing a national unemployment insurance programme, which will make workers and their families more resilient to shocks. It will also expand employment services coverage, linking them to the unemployment insurance system to serve more vulnerable job seekers, increase system capacity and develop strategic partnerships.

“Jamaica’s social assistance programmes have significantly contributed to poverty reduction over the last 20 years. Despite this progress, our social protection system faces several challenges including outdated delivery systems which struggle to adapt to economic shocks, including climate-related events. These adversely affect the livelihoods of the most vulnerable population and as such, there is a need to build greater capacity to ensure enhanced shock-responsiveness,” Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke said at the signing ceremony.

“The Government of Jamaica is therefore pleased to enter into this strategic partnership with the World Bank to expand our social protection coverage and strengthen our social protection delivery mechanisms,” Clarke added.

Collette Roberts Risden, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security explained that the SPIRO Project will expand the current social insurance provisions.

“Over the next six years, SPIRO will be implementing a comprehensive social protection information system to significantly enhance service delivery to our social welfare beneficiaries. In particular, we look forward to the significant reduction in the waiting time between application and payment from 90 days to 30 days,” Roberts Risden said.

According to the ministry, at least 290,425 people, including 155,719 women, will benefit directly from the project which will support formal workers covered by unemployment insurance, vulnerable job seekers, and beneficiaries of various social assistance programmes. Additionally, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Planning Institute of Jamaica and other government stakeholders will benefit from system upgrades and diagnostic studies.

“The project’s development objective, which is to expand coverage of social protection in Jamaica and to strengthen its social protection delivery system, particularly its capacity to respond to shocks demonstrates our collective vision to improve the lives of the most vulnerable by increasing resilience and economic opportunities,” said World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean Lilia Burunciuc.