The Programme for Advancement through Health and Education (PATH), Jamaica.

Abstract

The Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) is a conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme created in 2001 as part of a wide-ranging reform of the welfare system carried out by the Government of Jamaica with support from multilateral institutions. It provides cash transfers to poor families, who are subject to comply with conditions that promote the development of the human capital of their members. It has four main objectives, as follows: to alleviate poverty by increasing the value of transfers to the poor; to increase educational attainment and improve health outcomes of the poor by breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty; to reduce child labour, by requiring children to have minimum attendance in school; to prevent families from falling further into poverty in the event of an adverse shock. The objectives, lessons learned, background, details, implementation, impact, and factors contributing to success are outlined.

Citation

Inter-Regional Inequality Facility Policy Brief 4, Overseas Development Institute, UK, 4 pp.

The Programme for Advancement through Health and Education (PATH), Jamaica.

Published 1 January 2006