IDB Finances Project to Strengthen Jamaica's Cybersecurity

WASHINGTON — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a US$6.5 million loan to help Jamaica strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities, benefiting more than 2.8 million people by improving the resilience of public institutions and critical infrastructure against cyber threats.

The operation, which includes US$3.5 million in counterpart funding, for a total of US$10 million, will support the country’s efforts to modernize cybersecurity governance, enhance incident response capabilities, and expand its pool of specialized professionals. 

Cyberattacks in Jamaica have increased significantly, with over 34 million attempted attacks reported in the first half of 2025 alone. The IDB-financed project seeks to address these gaps by implementing a national critical infrastructure protection strategy and strengthening the government’s cybersecurity response. 

The program will also promote cybersecurity awareness and provide training for public sector and critical infrastructure professionals. It will support the development of cybersecurity curricula for primary and secondary schools and improve accreditation standards for university-level programs. 

The project will directly benefit 15 scholarship recipients for postsecondary cybersecurity studies, approximately 225 students enrolled in improved university programs, and 25 government and infrastructure professionals receiving specialized training. 

The operation aligns with Jamaica's Vision 2030 development plan and the National Cybersecurity Strategy. It also contributes to the IDB Group's institutional priorities of promoting digital transformation, strengthening institutional capacity, and enhancing citizen security. Additionally, it supports the regional program ONE Caribbean.

This is the third IDB loan operation focused exclusively on cybersecurity, following similar initiatives in Uruguay and Argentina.