Implementation of a New Country-Wide Social Safety-Net Program: The Jamaica PATH Program (Part A)
2017
This case describes a conditional cash transfer program in Jamaica, the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), that was redesigned in 2002 by the Jamaican government to incentivize mothers to increase health care and education for vulnerable children. Operating the program required coordination between a number of entities at both national and community levels. The case summarizes how eligibility for PATH was determined and how the program was implemented and assessed. A companion case focused on designing impact evaluations, along with a five-page follow-up epilogue, are also available.
The case is part of a series produced by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Case Program, hosted by the HKS Strengthening Learning and Teaching Excellence (SLATE) initiative, the world’s largest producer and repository of case studies designed for teaching about how government works and how public policy is made. Each case in the series is designed to train public leaders, and introduces actual policy dilemmas along with data to equip students to learn how to apply the rigor of quantitative analysis in the real world.
This case may be purchased for a nominal fee; registered educators may obtain a free review copy. Online supplemental resources include short free documents and videos on how to teach with the case method, as well as downloadable related tip sheets and questions for class discussion.
Implementation of a New Country-Wide Social Safety-Net Program: The Jamaica PATH Program (Part A)
Source:
Wilson JB. Implementation of a New Country-Wide Social Safety-Net Program: The Jamaica PATH Program: Part A. HKS Case No. 2058.0. Harvard Kennedy School Case Program 2017. https://case.hks.harvard.edu/implementation-of-a-new-country-wide-social-safety-net-program-the-jamaica-path-program-epilogue.