About Us

History of The Development GAP (TDG)

Taskforce for Sustainability

The Development GAP (TDG) was co-founded in 2012 by Monica Brown and Aleya Jobson in the parish of Manchester, Jamaica, out of a shared commitment to bridging the gap between social well-being, environmental health, and sustainable livelihoods in rural communities.

Initially operating as a grassroots initiative, TDG collaborated with local partners such as the Manchester Parish Development Committee and the Brooks Park Sports and Recreational Complex to promote sustainable community development. The team’s work was informed by the Manchester Sustainable Development Plan, which aligns with Vision 2030 Jamaica and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In its early years, TDG pioneered a volunteerism model designed to address Jamaica’s ongoing challenge of brain drain by recruiting and engaging skilled young professionals and university graduates in local development work. The concept focused on a labour exchange model, providing practical experience through community service while fostering civic engagement and social responsibility. While this unpaid model promoted social value, it proved financially unsustainable and led to a period of organizational reflection and restructuring.

During this formative stage, TDG collaborated with government agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations to deliver projects focused on sustainable livelihoods, including:

• Digital platforms to help craftspeople and farmers access new markets;

• Rural tourism and agro-processing pilots;

• Health fairs and environmental clean-up initiatives;

• Research on industrial land restoration and green business practices.

Through partnerships with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and civil society organizations, TDG identified that long-term sustainability requires community participation, co-creation, and ownership. These lessons formed the foundation of the organization’s new model of participatory development, which places beneficiaries—especially rural women and girls—at the center of planning, implementation, and monitoring.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further reinforced the urgency of TDG’s mission. As global disruptions exposed vulnerabilities in food security, livelihoods, and mental health, TDG recognized the need for locally grounded, healing-centered, and environmentally conscious solutions. Communities that once depended heavily on imports began to reimagine sustainable living through small-scale farming, craft innovation, and community cooperation.

In response to this renewed awareness, TDG was officially registered as a charitable organization in July 2023, redefining its mission through the indigenously developed “Roots of Wellness” model. This model integrates psychosocial healing, environmental stewardship, STEAM education, and entrepreneurship, empowering rural women and girls to become leaders in sustainability and agents of systemic change.

Today, The Development GAP functions as a charitable social enterprise that connects healing, empowerment, and environmental sustainability, facilitating the formation of women-led taskforces that protect land, bodies, and livelihoods. Through storytelling, advocacy, and participatory planning, TDG amplifies rural voices and strengthens the link between personal well-being, community resilience, and ecological balance—leaving a legacy of hope, equity, and environmental care for future generations.