Partners 2024

Welcome delegate. UNDP is honoured to welcome youth organizations and other longstanding partners in Government and academia as partners for the 2024 Ready Set Great (RSG) youth conference. Youth and institutional partners sit side by side on the steering committee engaging in frank, robust discussions which have helped produce an outstanding and memorable Ready Set Great product. I invite you to the meet our invaluable partners and learn more about them by navigating to their respective websites. See you at the conference. NOTE: 17 October is the virtual Opening Ceremony | 18 October is full conference

HOST AGENCY

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Multi Country Office in Jamaica

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. The UNDP Multi Country Office (MCO) in Jamaica serves Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. UNDP MCO in Jamaica focuses on Social Resilience and Inclusion; Citizen Safety and Security and Rule of Law; Climate Change Resilience; and Sustainable Natural Resource Management. Our tailored package of Signature Solutions supports the development of strong policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities and institutional capabilities, while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. We serve Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.. Visit Website.

Planning Institute of Jamaica

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is an agency of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MOFPS). The PIOJ is the foremost planning agency of the government that seeks to initiate and coordinate the development of policies, plans and programmes for the sustainable development of Jamaica. The PIOJ was established as a corporate body under the Planning Institute of Jamaica Act in April 1984. Formerly called the National Planning Agency in 1972 and the Central Planning Unit in 1955, the PIOJ was established specifically to strengthen the planning capability of the Government. Visit Website.

Vision 2030 Secretariat

Vision 2030 Secretariat of the Planning Institute of Jamaica coordinates Vision 2030 Jamaica – National Development Plan, Jamaica’s first long-term strategic development plan, provides a comprehensive planning framework in which the economic, social, environmental and governance aspects of national development are integrated. The Plan, which was approved in Parliament in 2009, is intended to advance the achievement of our national vision, which is captured in the statement: “Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.” Visit Website.

Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Research (SALISES)

The Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) is named after the distinguished St. Lucian economist Sir W. Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics (1979), former Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and former President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Sir Arthur was born in St. Lucia in 1915 and died in June 1991. He is well-known for his work on economic growth and development, international economic history and industrial organisation. The Institute was established in August 1999 as a result of a merger of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) and the Consortium Graduate School of Social Sciences (CGSSS). It is located on three campuses of the UWI – Cave Hill in Barbados; Mona in Jamaica and St. Augustine in Trinidad & Tobago. The Institute is a research and graduate teaching entity located within the University’s School of Graduate Studies and Research. It focuses on social, economic and political issues and hence is aligned to the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University. Visit Website.

Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF)

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) mobilizes resources and channels these to community-based socio-economic infrastructure and social services projects. Through a national partnership between central and local government, communities and private and public organizations, the JSIF addresses the immediate demands of communities in a manner that is quick, efficient, effective, transparent and non-partisan. In fulfilling its mandate, the JSIF facilitates the empowerment of communities and assists in building national capacity to effectively implement community-based programmes aimed at social development. Visit Website

Young Women/Men of Purpose

Young Women/Men of Purpose (YWOP/YMOP) is an award-winning NGO that provides career mentorship and guidance, personal development, and entrepreneurship training and support to young women and men between 13 and 32 years, across Jamaica. The organization has designed and implemented high impact projects, which have been funded by local and international funding agencies and has impacted over ten thousand youths across Jamaica. The organization now operates our own technology social enterprise, Link Your Purpose, to expand our work and contribute to the organization’s sustainability. As a non-profit organization, our mission is to offer programmes and opportunities that support youth career and life development. Visit Website.

Youth Inspiring Positive Change Ja. Ltd 

Youth Inspiring Positive Change Ja. Ltd is committed to volunteerism, advocacy, youth development and peace-building! YIPCJA organizes & trains youth around social issues, honing their unique skills to create innovative approaches to tackling Jamaica’s social issues and creating safe spaces for growth and empowerment of Jamaica’s young people. Visit website.

Youths For Excellence

Youths For Excellence is a registered charity and non-profit organisation headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica that serves inner-city youth sitting their exit examinations in grades four to six across 5 Caribbean countries. It was incorporated in 2015 by Founder Jénine Shepherd out of a need to try to bridge the gaps in education caused by societal inequities. At the core of our organisation is the idea that a holistic approach to education reform is needed. The future demands that every child gets a whole systems approach to closing the gaps in education families must be included in the system change. We accomplish this by providing tutoring, food, healthcare and school supplies to inner-city children as well as opportunities for personal development and career advancement for their families. Since our founding, we have assisted thousands of students with our holistic model that gained us the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence in Nation Building from the Jamaican Government as well as the most prestigious recognition for humanitarian work in the world via a Diana Award. We have begun the expansion of our work to rural areas of Jamaica and have expanded our scope to Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. Most notably, we have cemented our organization as an authority on education in Jamaica and have been called on to champion collaboration across the region in discussions around the future of education. Visit website.

Equipped To Speak Limited

Equipped to Speak Personal Development Services Ltd is a registered organization dedicated to fostering professional growth through tailored training programs. Our mission is to equip people with the skills and confidence to speak up, lead, and excel in their personal and professional lives. At the forefront of Equipped to Speak PDS Ltd’s success story are its inventive, and much-needed initiatives. Notably, the company’s flagship public speaking series “Building Confident YOU”, has garnered rising popularity for its unique, energetic, and fun-filled learning environment. In addition to the resounding success of its flagship programs, Equipped to Speak in the past year, has propelled towards solidifying its reputation as an industry innovator. We provide: speech coaching, corporate training workshops, team-building activities, and human capital solutions. Since incorporation, Equipped to Speak PDS Ltd has been instrumental in enhancing the skills and capabilities of professionals across various sectors, contributing to their personal and organizational success. We believe that personal growth is the cornerstone of professional success, and Equipped to Speak is proud to play a pivotal role in the personal and professional journeys of those we serve. Visit Website

Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students (JUTS)

The Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students (JUTS) is the national advocacy body responsible for advocating for tertiary student issues. Founded on the principles of student empowerment, JUTS represents the collective voice of 36 member institutions across the nation’s higher education institutions, ensuring students rights and interests are effectively championed. The union is composed of students’ councils, guilds, and movements of tertiary institutions across Jamaica, pursuant to regulation 32 of the Education Regulations Act 1980.

As an organization, we work towards improving the quality of tertiary education and addressing issues affecting students’ overall well-being. JUTS engages in various activities, including lobbying the government and educational institutions, organizing events, conducting research, and providing support services to its members. The union plays a crucial role in voicing the concerns of tertiary students and acting as a platform for student leaders who come together to have their voices heard at a national level. JUTS also extends its reach beyond local advocacy, representing Jamaican students in international forums to ensure their voices are heard on a global stage.

With a commitment to excellence and a vision for the future, the Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students continues to lead the charge in transforming higher education in Jamaica, making it more accessible, equitable, and impactful for all students.

Caribbean Youth Climate Justice Coalition

The Caribbean Youth Climate Justice Coalition is a network of youth-led climate change organizations, working to increase youth engagement and craft solutions for a climate-resilient Caribbean. Visit Website