Jamaica project 532-0108 · 1994 · financial sector

PACR of a project (3/84-8/89) to help establish the National Development Foundation of Jamaica (NDF/J) and support the expansion of its credit, TA, and training programs to small-scale non-farming enterprises. Due to the changing of Mission personnel, the report, written 5 years after the PACD, was prepared by NDF/J. The project purpose and objectives were accomplished. (1) An Executive Director as well as other staff were recruited. (2) The Montego Bay branch was established in November of 1984. (3) Officers of the NDF/J traveled abroad as well as to sister foundations to be trained and to obtain experience in the operations of similar credit institutions. (4) Commodities such as a security vault, motor vehicles, and typewriters were acquired. (5) External TA for recruitment of staff, establishment of NDF/J, and design of mechanisms for credit and portfolio management was provided. (6) A fund for extending loans to clients was established. Lessons learned were as follows. (1) The provision of credit and TA to the small business sector is a specialized and costly undertaking which requires developmental assistance. NDF/J would not be what it is today without the kinds of as

Source: DEC abstract, PD-ABK-772 (1994). The source's own text.