The National Policy on Poverty and National Poverty Reduction Programme together constitute a responsive instrument of the Government of Jamaica to the need to institute a systematic and accountable framework to implement, coordinate, monitor and evaluate measures to address poverty and vulnerability. These represent a move to providing a focal point for coordinating poverty programmes and to address the void existing since the end of the previous programme. The National Poverty Eradication Programme and accompanying policy framework (Ministry Paper #13, 1997) which had been in effect since 1997 was administered through the Programme Monitoring and Coordinating Unit (PMCU) of the Office of the Prime Minister. The PMCU functions were terminated around 2007.
- Strengthen social safety nets to address extreme poverty-induced deprivations (including hunger).
- Promote and expand human capital development among the poor and vulnerable (including children and persons with disabilities).
- Enhance income security among the poor and vulnerable.
- Enhance food and nutrition security of the poor.
- Strengthen basic social and physical infrastructure.
- Address psycho-social, cultural and normative influences on poverty.
- Strengthen coordination and capacity building for poverty reduction.
