Citizen oversight boost

The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) has awarded €37,908 ($7 million) in European Union-funded grants to two civil-society organisations to strengthen citizen engagement in public financial management and government oversight.

The Lesma Ellis Foundation and Fi We Children Foundation will run projects over the next five months, with activities continuing until March 1, 2026. Their work will focus on budget scrutiny, citizen participation and fiscal transparency.

“JAMP believes that citizens have an important role to play as part of the country’s oversight system, helping to keep in check the enormous power that governments have, especially over the use of our tax dollars,” said Jeanette Calder, JAMP’s executive director. She added that the grants reflect JAMP’s commitment to equipping civil-society groups to participate more effectively in national policy dialogue on public financial management.

Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz, head of cooperation at the EU Delegation to Jamaica, noted that “civil society organisations are key actors in protecting and promoting democracy, rule of law and human rights, which are fundamental values of the European Union.” He said the EU recognises that smaller CSOs often struggle to access international funding because of co-financing requirements, and that partnerships with entities such as JAMP help ensure these groups “do not experience further decline.”

Building Capacity for Budget Literacy

As part of the grant implementation process, JAMP recently hosted a capacity-building workshop for staff and volunteers from both organisations. The session focused on understanding the national budget and the accountability mechanisms in Jamaica, equipping the grantees with essential knowledge to effectively execute their projects and engage citizens in budget oversight.

Fi We Children Foundation will implement Eyes Pon Di Budget: Youth for Accountability and Fiscal Justice, a project aimed at equipping 80 underserved young people aged 16 to 29 with the tools to understand and monitor public spending. Founder Africka Stephens said the initiative responds to “the urgent need for greater fiscal education among our youth.

“Through Eyes Pon Di Budget: Youth for Fiscal Justice and Accountability, we aim to bridge this gap by empowering children and young adults in Kingston and St James to understand how the national budget affects their lives and communities,” she said.

The Lesma Ellis Foundation will roll out CivicPulse JA, a civic-tech project that will create a mobile-friendly platform for citizens to report on government-funded projects. The four-month initiative will train at least 20 people “CivicPulse Champions” and aims to gather a minimum of 50 citizen reports.

Director Oshane Creary said the goal is to empower young people “to use data and digital tools to identify issues, share evidence, and push for action.”

“ Our goal is to empower young people to use data and digital tools to identify issues, share evidence, and push for action, so communities are not just informed, but actively involved in shaping how resources are used and promises are fulfilled.”