Complete the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (JM0008)

What is the public problem that the commitment will address?

Over the 19 years from 2002-2020, Jamaica has averaged a Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score of only 37.5 out of 100 in the rankings conducted annually by Transparency International. Prior to its 2017 and 2018 CPI scores of 44 Jamaica had never scored higher than 41 (2015 CPI score) while Jamaica’s lowest CPI score ever was 30 which was recorded in 2009. A CPI score of below 50 means that a country has a serious corruption problem. In 2023 Jamaica had a CPI score of 44 and ranked 69th out of 180 countries. A 2015 USAID Final Report entitled “Combatting Corruption in Jamaica Final Performance Evaluation Caribbean Basin Security Initiative” cited a deficit in Jamaica’s efforts as follows, “While institutional progress has been made, the Government’s approach to corruption remains piecemeal and unfinished.” Additionally, Jamaica’s 2014 National Security Policy estimates that 5% of GDP or nearly J$100 billion is lost to corruption annually.

Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable Start Date: End Date: Conduct extensive stakeholder consultations on preparation of National Anti-Corruption Strategy January 2024 July 2024 Develop Draft National Anti-Corruption Strategy July 2024 December 2024 Conduct extensive stakeholder consultations on Draft National Anti-Corruption Strategy January 2025 March 2025 Complete National Anti-Corruption Strategy and submit to Cabinet April 2025 July 2025

What is the commitment?

To complete the development of Jamaica’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem?

The country has specialised agencies and organisations with a range of roles which are mandated to address causes of corruption, including The Integrity Commission, The Major Organised Crime AntiCorruption Agency (MOCA), Financial Investigations Division, Revenue Protection Division and Jamaica Customs Agency. Despite the presence of these agencies, and the promulgation of new laws and measures, the country has not had the benefit of an integrated and coordinated approach in dealing with corruption issues. The completion of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NAS) will provide a structured framework for coordinated action among relevant agencies and stakeholders in addressing the causes and manifestations of corruption in the public and private sectors on a sustainable basis. The NAS will include a monitoring and evaluation framework that will enhance transparency in its implementation.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values?

The completion of Jamaica’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NAS) is relevant to the following OGP values: 1. Access to Information: The NAS will strengthen reporting requirements and transparency. 2. Civic Participation: The process of completion of the NAS will include extensive stakeholder consultation and the NAS will include defined roles for stakeholders in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation. 3. Public Accountability: The NAS will strengthen prevention and detection of corruption within government, public bodies and the private sector.

Additional information The completion of Jamaica’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NAS) is aligned with: • Section 6 (1)(j) of the Integrity Commission Act (2017) – Coordinate the implementation of an anti-corruption strategy • Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan – National Outcome No. 6 Effective Governance, including National Strategy 6-1 Strengthen the Process of Citizen Participation in Governance and National Strategy 6-7 Strengthen Accountability and Transparency Mechanisms • Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF) for the relevant three-year period • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Target 16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms • Lima Commitment, OAS VIII Summit of the Americas (2018) - Democratic Governance Against Corruption

Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable | Start Date | End Date
Conduct extensive stakeholder consultations on preparation of National Anti-Corruption Strategy | January 2024 | July 2024
Develop Draft National Anti-Corruption Strategy | July 2024 | December 2024
Conduct extensive stakeholder consultations on Draft National Anti-Corruption Strategy | January 2025 | March 2025
Complete National Anti-Corruption Strategy and submit to Cabinet | April 2025 | July 2025