Approach Paper Jamaica Country Program Evaluation, Fiscal Years 2014–25 December 19, 2025 1. Evaluation Purpose and Audience 1.1 This Country Program Evaluation (CPE) will assess the performance of the World Bank Group's support to Jamaica from FY 2014 to FY25. The evaluation will cover two Bank Group strategies, the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) from FY14 to FY17, which was extended through FY19, and part of the ongoing Country Partnership Framework (CPF) from FY24 to FY27, as well as the period with ...

Core Insights - The transportation industry is anticipating 2026 as a year of equilibrium, with analysts predicting a realignment rather than a significant boom or bust [1] - Current market conditions show normalizing capacity due to stricter compliance enforcement, leading to a slight increase in spot rates, while volumes remain suppressed [1] Market Challenges - The current market environment is challenging for brokers, as it allows shippers and carriers to agree on rates more easily, potentially sidelining brokers [2] - Typically, an increase in spot rates correlates with rising volumes, but the current situation features slow volumes, allowing large asset carriers to maintain available capacity and accept loads at nominally higher rates [3] Broker Margins and Operational Pressures - Freight brokers face a precarious situation with low volumes and rising spot rates, which compresses their margins as the difference between what they can charge and what they pay carriers narrows [4] - Rising costs in fuel, insurance, maintenance, and equipment further squeeze margins, while new regulations demand greater operational discipline from brokers [5] Strategic Planning for Resilience - As brokers enter 2026, they are under pressure from tighter margins and higher expectations, necessitating proactive resilience-building rather than a passive approach [6] - While carriers and shippers may view 2026 as a stabilization year, brokers should focus on resetting operations and reinforcing capabilities to prepare for future challenges [7] - Strategic planning is essential for resilience in 2026, emphasizing cost control, automation of processes, and building data-informed relationships with shippers and carriers [8]