Barbados: People Development Third Sector Grant Facility
Donor: Ministry of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector
Location: Barbados
Beneficiaries: Organisations
Project focus areas: Community-led initiatives that strengthen skills, inclusion, employability and national development
Funding amount: Up to BDS $30,000
Project duration: 6 months
Deadline: 20 November 2026
The People Development Third Sector Grant Facility, offered by Barbados' Ministry of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector, provides grants to Barbados-based third sector organisations for community-led initiatives that strengthen skills, inclusion, employability and national development.
The 2026 facility's strategic priorities include disability-inclusive education and training, innovation and enterprise, competency-based training for emerging sectors, the digital transition, health and wellness, youth engagement, future skills and workforce readiness, and the care economy.
Proposed activities must be implemented in Barbados within six months.
The Facility provides grants of up to BDS $30,000.
Eligible applicants are Barbados-based third sector organisations that are registered charities or non-governmental organisations established for at least three years before the application deadline.
Each applicant may submit one proposal using the application template in the 2026 Policy and Guidelines and must provide the required supporting documents. Proposals are assessed for operational capacity, relevance, effectiveness and feasibility, sustainability, scalability, and budget and cost effectiveness; the three highest-ranked eligible proposals are recommended for funding, subject to approval.
Strategic priority areas for 2026
1. Education and Training for People Living with Disabilities. Inclusive training, accessible learning, educator development and removal of barriers to employment.
2. Innovation and Enterprise. Entrepreneurship, STEAM skills, business development, innovation and access to markets..
3. Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) to Support Emerging Sectors. Industry-aligned training for the Green and Blue Economies, the Orange Economy and the Platform Economy, including gig, freelance and remote work; industry-recognised micro-credentials, workforce readiness, career guidance and lifelong learning.
4. The Digital Transition. Digital and AI literacy, ethical technology use, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, software development, digital marketing and e-commerce; digital inclusion and adaptation to technological change.
5. Health and Wellness. Healthy workplaces, wellness awareness and interventions addressing underlying causes of crime.
6. Youth Engagement. School-to-work transitions, employability and targeted skills development for vulnerable young people.
7. Future Skills and Workforce Readiness. Communication, critical thinking, AI literacy, financial literacy, adaptability, civic responsibility and lifelong learning.
8. Care Economy. Care-worker training and certification, decent employment, inclusive caregiving and innovation in care delivery.
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