The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has a two-fold mandate of furthering America's foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets, while improving the lives of the citizens of developing countries.
These objectives are achieved by extending assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms, in the areas of economic growth, agriculture and trade; global health; democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance.
In 2001, the USAID designed the Peace and Prosperity Project (PPP) for implementation in the inner-city communities of Grants Pen and Stand Pipe which were experiencing high levels of crime and violence. Its main aim was conflict prevention by significantly improving the social and economic opportunities available to the residents of these communities. Consequently, a partnership was brokered with the KRC for the management of the Project which was also endorsed by the Government of Jamaica (GOJ). The project ended in 2004.
The USAID had previously partnered with the KRC to implement the Inner-Kingston Development Project (IKDP) between 1986 and 1996
