The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal Limited (JAMP) has awarded grants totalling €37,908 to two civil society organisations as part of a European Union-funded initiative aimed at strengthening civic engagement in public financial management and accountability.

Beneficiaries of the grants, The Lesma Ellis Foundation and Fi We Children Foundation, will implement projects focused on budget oversight, citizen participation, and fiscal transparency over the next five months. Project-related activities will run until March 1, 2026.

“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,” shared Jeanette Calder, executive director of JAMP.

“These grants represent our commitment to empowering other civil society organisations to engage more effectively in national policy dialogue on public financial management.”

As part of its three-year EU-funded project, ‘Civil Society Organisations as Actors of Governance and Development in Jamaica,’ JAMP has disbursed the grants to strengthen the capacities of civil society organisations to engage in national policy dialogue on public financial management and accountability matters.

On this note, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Jamaica Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz underscored the role of civil society organisations in promoting the principles of democracy.

“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. CSOs are key partners in consultations on devising and implementing policies and programs that meet people’s needs, reduce inequalities, and create more legitimate and accountable states,” he stated.

The EU understands that many smaller CSOs are unable to approach international organisations directly for grant funding because of co-financing requirements. Through entities like JAMP, the EU aims to ensure that smaller CSOs do not experience further decline.

“We are encouraged by JAMP’s ability to use this EU-funded project to address issues that build other development and governance actors, who will feel sufficiently empowered to apply directly for upcoming EU grants,” Rodriguez Ruiz added.

With Jamaica’s Corruption Perceptions Index score remaining stagnant at 44 since 2017, placing the country 73rd out of 180 globally, the grants serve to address governance challenges experienced in Jamaica by strengthening citizen engagement and oversight in public financial management.

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. It equipped the grantees with essential knowledge to effectively execute their projects and engage citizens in budget oversight.

Fi We Children Foundation will execute “Eyes Pon Di Budget: Youth for Accountability and Fiscal Justice,” a youth-centred civic engagement initiative that will equip 80 underserved Jamaican youth, aged 16 to 29, with knowledge and tools to engage meaningfully in national budget literacy and financial oversight.4

Africka Stephens, executive founder of Fi We Children Foundation, explained that the motivation behind her organisation’s application for the grant was due to recognising the urgent need for greater fiscal education among the 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.

Meanwhile, The Lesma Ellis Foundation will implement “CivicPulse JA,” a civic tech initiative that will build a mobile-friendly app allowing citizens to report on government-funded projects in their communities. The four-month project will train at least 20 CivicPulse Champions and aims to collect at least 50 citizen reports on project implementation.

Oshane Creary, director of Lesma Ellis Foundation, explained: “We have seen how difficult it can be for citizens, especially youth, to understand and engage with government processes that directly affect their communities. Through the CivicPulse JA project, we want to bridge that gap by combining technology and citizen participation to make public accountability more accessible.”

He added: 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.”

Both projects align with JAMP’s strategic objectives of strengthening accountability mechanisms in Parliament and Government, improving citizens’ understanding of Jamaica’s accountability framework, and stimulating citizen engagement and oversight.