'World Bank-funded REDI a success'

The World Bank-funded Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) is being hailed as being successful in reducing poverty and empowering rural communities. 

The $1.9 billion programme, which was implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), is said to be pivotal in facilitating improved market access for micro- and small-scale rural agricultural producers and tourism projects.

The projects and initiatives under REDI, which ran from January 2010 up to July this year, were geared towards reducing poverty by increasing the earning opportunities for persons, particularly in rural communities.

Speaking at the recent closing ceremony for the REDI project at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge in St Andrew, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr Horace Chang, said the programme was effective in bringing about meaningful changes in the beneficiaries communities.