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Drafted a National Diaspora Policy

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Drafted a National Diaspora Policy DRAFT NATIONAL DIASPORA POLICY GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE VERSION 11: 2nd MARCH 2020 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................. 5 FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................................... 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 7-9 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 10 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 Policy Context .................................................................................................................. 11 1.3 Expected Policy Outcomes ......................................................................................... 11-12 2. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................... 13-23 3. THE NATIONAL DIASPORA POLICY ........................................................................................... 24 3.1 Vision Statement............................................................................................................. 24 3.2 Policy Aim and Goals ....................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Guiding Principles ...................................................................................................... 25-26 3.4 Pillars of the Policy ..................................................................................................... 26-27 3.5 Policy Objectives ........................................................................................................ 27-28 3.6 Policy Thematic Areas and Strategies ............................................................................ 28 3.6.1 Socioeconomic Engagement and Involvement ……. 28 3.6.2 Human Capital Exchanges and Philanthropy …....29 3.6.3 Integration and Return …….30 3.6.4 Economic Inflows, Investments and Trade ……31 3.6.5 Safety and Security …....32 3.6.6 Governance …….33 2 3.6.7 Engagement of Diaspora Youth and Young Adults …...34 3.6.8 Diaspora Tourism and Cultural Exchanges …….35 3.6.9 Legislative and Policy Review .......36 3.6.10 Data and Information ..37-38 4. POLICY COHERENCE ............................................................................................................... 39 4.1 Vision 2030 and Diaspora ............................................................................................... 39-40 4.2 Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework 2018-2021(MTF) ................................. 41 4.3 The National Policy on International Migration and Development Policy .................... 41-42 5. STAKEHOLDERS ....................................................................................................................... 43 5.1 Government of Jamaica ...................................................................................................... 43 5.2 Diaspora .............................................................................................................................. 44 5.3 Private Sector ...................................................................................................................... 44 5.4 Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations…………………..…………....44 5.5 The International Community and Development Partners ................................................ 45 5.6 Media.................................................................................................................................. .45 6. FINANCING ............................................................................................................................ 46 6.1 Contributions from the Government .................................................................................. 46 6.2 Contributions from International Community and Development Partners ....................... 46 6.3 Contributions from the Private Sector ................................................................................ 47 6.4 Contributions from the Diaspora ...................................................................................... 477 7. MONITORING AND EVALUATION....................................................................................... 48 3 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................. 49 APPENDIX 1 - Alignment of Vision 2030 Jamaica with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ………………………………………………………………………………..……….…..…….……….........49-52 APPENDIX 2 - Jamaican Diaspora Population –Selected Countries ……….…..…….……………........53 APPENDIX 3 - Usage of Remittances for Frequent Remittance Recipients…..…….....................54 APPENDIX 4 - Diaspora Challenges……………………….………..……………..……………….……………….55-57 APPENDIX 5 - Governance & Administration Structure & Relationships for Diaspora Policy Implementation……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….58 APPENDIX 6 - Legislative Framework ................................................................................... 59-69 APPENDIX 7 - Jamaican Emigration to the USA, UK and Canada by Decade 1970’s -2015 ...... 70 APPENDIX 8 - Total Remittances 2014-2019 (US$ Mn)…………………………………………..…………....71 APPENDIX 9 - Remittance Inflows from USA, Canada and UK 2014-2019 (US$M)…………...…...71 APPENDIX 10 - List of Countries with which Jamaica has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….72-73 GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................. 74-76 REFERENCES…………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………..77-78 4 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS CAPRI - Caribbean Policy Research Institute DAD - Diaspora Affairs Department GoJ - Government of Jamaica ICT - Information and Communication Technology IMF - International Monetary Fund IOM - International Organization M&E - Monitoring and Evaluation MDAs - Ministries, Departments and Agencies MFAFT - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade MSME - Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises MTF - Medium Term Socio-economic Framework NGOs - Non-Government Organizations NPIMD - National Policy on International Migration and Development NWGIMD - National Working Group on International Migration and Development ODA - Official Development Assistance PIOJ - Planning Institute of Jamaica PPP - Public-Private Partners SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals STATIN - Statistical Institute of Jamaica UK - United Kingdom USA - United States of America 5 FOREWORD There is increasing recognition that Diasporas are key actors on the international stage. Given their spheres of influence in their host countries, they often bring tremendous value to their countries of origin. Diasporas also play multiple roles in the socio-economic development of their homelands. They are investors, philanthropists, bridge-builders, Brand Ambassadors, lobbyists, marketers and of course, consumers. Given the importance of the role that members of the Diaspora play in Jamaica’s development, it is imperative that the Government implement mutually beneficial mechanisms to maximise this dynamic relationship. This National Diaspora Policy therefore provides the foundational institutional framework for engagement with our Jamaican Diaspora. The policy embodies the commitment of the Government of Jamaica to the nation’s development and the Diaspora’s well-being. In particular, it addresses issues and concerns of the Diaspora while assisting them to live in harmony and to prosper in the countries where they and their descendants reside. Secondly, it seeks to optimise the Diaspora’s contribution to Jamaica’s sustainable development. A main thread throughout the Policy is the focus on the people, the places from which they come and currently reside, prosperity agendas and facilitating peaceful Jamaican communities and trusted partnerships. The policy development process was led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) which worked in collaboration with members of the Diaspora, including members of the Diaspora Advisory Board and broader members of the overseas Jamaican community, Jamaican Overseas Missions, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and members of the National Working Group for International Migration and Development (NWGIMD). The MFAFT is grateful to the Diaspora and local stakeholders who contributed to the development of this new National Diaspora Policy. It is anticipated that the strategies and expected outcomes of this Policy will maximise the value of the contributions of the Diaspora to Jamaica’s national development and simultaneously contribute to the growth and prosperity of the Diaspora. Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade JAMAICA 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Preamble The National Diaspora Policy reflects the commitment of the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) to pursue Diaspora related strategies and initiatives that are mutually beneficial to national development processes and the well-being of its Diaspora population. The Policy is in keeping
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