Overview of JamStats
Last updated: September 19, 2008
The first JamStats database was created in 2002 as a national adaptation of the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) ChildInfo software. Since then, two updated versions have been launched in 2005 and 2007 respectively, using the successor to the ChildInfo software, DevInfo.
In January 2007, the JamStats Secretariat was created to drive this process of the Institutionalization of DevInfo in Jamaica. The Secretariat, which is housed at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), has a lifeline of two years and six months in which to achieve the goals and objectives of the programme. The Secretariat is charged with: strengthening of the database in terms of content to include strategically important social and economic indicators, the routine updating of JamStats as well as providing Internet access to the database by establishing a website.
One of the major undertakings is to map the indicators by commitment and/or framework. In doing so, JamStats will be seen as an indispensable source of data and DevInfo as the data management software for data producers. JamStats will be positioned to play a key role in efforts at harmonizing national data collection and dissemination. To achieve this, the Secretariat has carried out several sessions with key stakeholders to sensitize and increase public awareness.
Dissemination of JamStats CDs, as well as other promotional and advocacy materials, has been an instrumental aspect of public advocacy and has been conducted in schools, public libraries, and at various promotional/institutional events. Training and capacity building are also important to achieving the objectives of the project. To this end, the Secretariat conducts and facilitates ongoing training sessions, mainly with public sector staff and teachers. It is envisioned that a pool of database administrators will be established and maintained.
Another aim of the project is to enhance and promote JamStats in schools island-wide. Currently, the JamStats Secretariat conducts quarterly visits to schools to introduce students and teachers alike to the software, and to engage them its functions. Students and teachers are informed that the database can be used to generate maps, graphs and tables for inclusion in presentations and reports for school based assessments.
In these efforts, the JamStats Secretariat along with UNICEF, PIOJ and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) seek to continue to achieve our vision of “Tracking Jamaica’s Progress.”