KINGSTON, Jamaica — A project aimed at reducing poverty in low-income, vulnerable communities through livelihood enhancement and human resource development services has been allocated $153 million in fiscal year 2026/27.

The initiative, titled “Capacity Building for Education and Livelihoods Development Project”, is jointly funded by the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and will be implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

Details of the project are provided in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure, recently tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams.

Targets for the 2026/27 fiscal year include continuing construction of the special education block at Frankfield Primary School; commencing rehabilitation of the special education block at Lowe River Primary School; completing safe passage works at Old Harbour and Grange Hill Primary School; and facilitating a project audit, along with preparation of a project completion report inclusive of beneficiary satisfaction surveys.

Up to December 2025, the project recorded several key achievements, including the development of Special Education Standards; training of 20 youth under the small farmers capacity-building programme in agricultural techniques; and the training of 27 teachers in the general introduction to special education.

Other achievements included progress on construction projects, with the special education block at Frankfield Primary reaching 40 per cent completion. Safe passage works were also advanced, with Old Harbour Primary at 85 per cent completion and Grange Hill Primary at 40 per cent completion.

Additionally, 161 literacy and numeracy equipment items were supplied to the Early Simulation Programme, while rehabilitation works on Top Quarter Road had reached 90 per cent completion.

— JIS