PIOJ –FCGP: 4 Project Indicators Remains Incomplete at the Project Close

Auditor General's Findings

The World Bank (IBRD) funded Foundations for Competitiveness and Growth Project (FCGP), managed by the Planning Institute of Jamaica, ran from September 2014 to March 2024 (closing out in July 2024) on a combined loan facility of US$65 million (US$50 million original loan plus US$15 million in additional financing).

The project was measured against 4 Project Development Objective Indicators (PDOIs), all of which were exceeded, and 23 supporting intermediate indicators. Of the 23 intermediate indicators, 14 were attained (7 exceeding target) and 5 were partially or moderately attained by project close, while 4 remained classified as “in-progress” at the reporting date. The remaining indicators are government-to-business (G2B) digital platforms, firms benefiting from debt resolutions, investment facilitation, and commercial applications via the Jamaica Development Application Portal (JDAP).

PIOJ attributed the delays to firms’ reluctance to engage in debt resolution via the Office of the Supervisor of Insolvency, procurement-related delays in developing and upgrading G2B platforms, and a preference for in-person building-permit applications over the JDAP portal. Management was encouraged to expedite the outstanding activities, and PIOJ advised that continued implementation, funded through GoJ counterpart financing, was expected to bring all four indicators to substantial completion by March 31, 2025.

Permanent Secretary (current): Darlene Morrison

Breach Category: Project Management

Permanent Secretary (at breach): Darlene Morrison

Breach Type: Inadequate Project Monitoring

Status: Full Compliance

Last Assessed: July 6, 2026

Year Reported: 2024

Year Resolved: 2025

Recommendation

Management was encouraged to expedite completion of the work-in-progress activities and achieve the stated project objectives; PIOJ accepted the recommendation and indicated that continued implementation, funded through GoJ counterpart financing, was expected to bring the four indicators to substantial completion by March 31, 2025.

JAMP Update

PIOJ responded to JAMP on June 30, 2026, first clarifying that only 4 of the 9 indicators referenced in the request were actually classified “in-progress” at the time of audit. For the 5 already-completed indicators, final results:

strategic MOUs/Guidelines (5 of a target of 8, moderately attained);
Export Max III trade facilitation (41 of a target of 45, mostly attained);
PPF-supported strategic private investments (11 of a target of 12, mostly attained);
SME project-financed loans (140 of a target of 175, mostly attained);
and outstanding SME loan portfolio (US$41.075M against a target of US$84.815M, partially attained – reflecting a standardized SME definition adopted mid-project).

For the 4 in-progress indicators, final results were:

G2B digital platforms – 6 of 6 (up from 4 at audit), Attained;
firms benefiting from debt resolutions – 58 of a target of 60 (up from 51 at audit), Mostly Attained;
investment facilitation – 60 applications against a target of 16 (up from 51 at audit), Exceeded;
and JDAP commercial applications – 70 of a target of 100 (up from 58 at audit), Moderately Attained.

None of the four indicators remain formally “in-progress” as of the response, though the JDAP indicator did not reach its original numeric target by project close. PIOJ noted the World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group rated the project’s overall outcome “Satisfactory,” with all four higher-level PDO indicators exceeded (205% average attainment).

For more detail, see ATI response below.