Government of Jamaica
Policy Development Process
The Policy Analysts’ Network
Friday, 25 June 2021
Presentation Outline
• Context of National Policies
• The Policy Development Programme
• Types of Policies
• Before Developing a Policy
• The Policy Development Process
• Communicating the Policy
• The Implementation Plan
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Risk Management
Context of National Policies
• The Cabinet is the central body in policy-making.
• The Cabinet’s role in the policy-making process is
grounded in the Constitution of Jamaica.
• Section 69 (2) of the Constitution states that:
• The Cabinet shall be the principal instrument of
policy and shall be charged with the general direction
and control of the Government of Jamaica and shall
be collectively responsible therefor to Parliament.
The Policy Development Programme
• The Cabinet Office monitors National Policies by way of
the Policy Development Programme.
• These are National Policies which Ministries are
developing.
• A copy of the complete Programme is posted on the
website of the Cabinet Office.
The Policy Development Programme
• The Programme is updated bi-annually with information
from Ministries, Cabinet Decisions and the Houses of
Parliament.
• Only items which have been formally presented to
Cabinet for approval, as per the steps in the
policy process, are included in the Programme.
Types of Policies
• There are two (2) types of Policies:
• National Policies; and
• Operational Policies.
Operational Policies
• Operational Policies:
• Directly linked to the workplans of a particular
Ministry and its Departments and Agencies.
• Do not actively involve multiple stakeholders
spanning various portfolio areas.
What is a National Policy?
• A National Policy is a
course of action that is taken by the Government to
solve a given problem or interrelated set of
problems.
• The policy is presented in a document which is:
• subject to the approval of Cabinet; and
• tabled in the Houses of Parliament. (Decision No.
20/11 dated 2 May 2011 refers)
What is a National Policy?
• Policy may also refer to inaction.
• The Government may decide to take no action to
solve a particular problem.
Before Developing a Policy
• Assess the need for a policy:
• Determine whether or not a policy is
required to solve the problem;
• Determine whether reliable data is
available;
• Determine what options there are;
Before Developing a Policy
• All stakeholders must agree that the development of a
policy is the best course of action;
• The policy must be in line with the government's political
priorities;
• Understand the problem; and
• Stakeholder Engagement
Steps in the Policy Development Process
• There are five (5) steps in the Policy Development Process.
These are:
1. Development of a Concept Paper
2. Policy Preparation & Analysis
3. Public Consultations (Green Paper)
4. Point of Readiness (White Paper)
5. Final Tabling in Parliament
STEP 1: Development of a Concept Paper
• The Concept Paper
• Provides information on the problem to be solved by
the Policy;
• Provides information on the method(s) to be used to
develop the Policy;
• Should include some data obtained from research on
the subject matter;
STEP 1: Development of a Concept Paper
• Should include an Action Plan as it relates to the
development of the Policy:
• Resources and timelines should be included in the
Plan;
• Identification of stakeholders; and
• The proposed Policy Steering Committee that will
guide development of the Policy
• A Terms of Reference for the Policy Steering Committee
must be developed.
STEP 1: Development of a Concept Paper
• The Concept Paper must be submitted for the approval
of the Cabinet via a Cabinet Submission.
STEP 2: Policy Preparation and Analysis
• A draft policy document must be prepared by the
Ministry.
• The Guidelines for the Development of National Policies
provides details on this process.
• Need to apply a Climate Change Lens; and
• Need to use a Gender Analysis Checklist.
STEP 2: Policy Preparation and Analysis
• Once the draft document is completed, it should be
submitted to the Cabinet Office via a Cabinet Submission.
• The Cabinet Submission should request approval of
the policy as a Green Paper.
• The Submission should include evidence of
consultation with key government stakeholders.
• Should also include how the Policy will be funded
and should not refer to donor funding.
STEP 2: Policy Preparation and Analysis
• Once the draft policy is submitted to the Cabinet Office,
it will be referred to the relevant Cabinet Committee for
consideration.
• After consideration, the Committee may recommend:
• that the matter be considered by the Cabinet; OR
• that changes be made to the document and be
resubmitted
STEP 3: Public Consultations (Green Paper
Stage)
• Once approved by Cabinet as a Green Paper, the
draft policy must also be tabled in the Houses of
Parliament.
• After tabling, the document will form the basis of
consultations with the wider stakeholder group.
• The Consultation Code of Practice for the Public
Sector must guide the consultation process.
STEP 4: Point of Readiness (White Paper)
• Once revisions have been made to the draft
policy based on the consultative process, the
revised draft may be presented to the
stakeholders for validation as the final policy
document.
STEP 4: Point of Readiness (White Paper)
• Once revisions are completed, the draft
Policy may go back to the relevant Cabinet
Committee for consideration as a White
Paper.
• An Implementation Plan must be included
with the draft Policy
STEP 4: Point of Readiness (White Paper)
• The Cabinet Committee may decide to
recommend approval as a White Paper for
tabling in the Houses of Parliament OR
recommend additional modifications to the
document.
STEP 5: Final Tabling in Parliament
• After Cabinet approves the document for
tabling as a White Paper, the Ministry must
ensure tabling in Parliament.
Steps Post-Policy Development
• Communicating the Policy
• Implementing the Policy
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Risk Management
Communicating the Policy
• Develop a Communication Strategy
• Best done at the start of the policy
development process
• Determine Communication Channels to be
used
• Bulletins, press/media, websites, press
releases, radio and television
Communicating the Policy
• Changes to Communication Means and
Priorities
• Changes to communications means and
priorities (evolving requirements of
stakeholders) may be required during
implementation of the strategy
The Implementation Plan
• The Implementation Plan outlines the work-flow and
how the objectives of the Policy will be achieved.
• Timing the implementation
• Realistic timeframes for implementation
• It is vital that the Implementation Plan is developed
along with the policy document.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
• Monitoring is the process of observation and modification
during policy implementation.
• Activities/Inputs
• Outputs
• Evaluation is the process of determining the value of
what the policy has achieved in relation to the intended
result and overall objectives.
• Outcomes
• Impacts
RISK MANAGEMENT
• Identify and assess risk
• Ownership
• Actions to mitigate or anticipate risk
• Monitor and review progress
• Consistent monitoring of the situation to
determine if anything has changed and if any
new risks emerged over time.
QUESTIONS
