SDC Advancing Citizen Participation in Governance to Drive Social Change

The Social Development Commission (SDC) is advancing citizen participation in governance as a catalyst for social change.

Executive Director, Omar Frith, says a central feature of the Commission’s programme offering is its emphasis on participatory governance.

“When we speak of democracy, we speak of citizens’ empowerment. The SDC has a significant role in ensuring that there are structured mechanisms available at the community level through which citizens can actively contribute to decision-making, [and also that] they can identify problems that face their specific locations [and] articulate solutions. These solutions are going to go well for positive change in their spaces,” he said.

Mr. Frith was speaking with JIS News during the SDC’s Greater St. Catherine Governance Conference, hosted on Wednesday (January 21) at the Caymanas Golf Club.

In a move to strengthen the governance of civil society and community-based organisations, the SDC, in strategic partnership with the Community Renewal Programme (CRP) of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), hosted a series of five parish conferences and four financial management workshops. (Click here for full story)