Canada Invests J$22.9M in Nine Jamaican Community Development Projects

Nine organizations selected from nearly 100 applicants will pursue projects focused on economic opportunity, peace and security, human rights and stronger communities.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Nine Jamaican organizations have secured a combined J$22.9 million from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives for community projects aimed at expanding economic opportunity, advancing peacebuilding and strengthening resilience across the country.

The grants were announced at the September 30 launch of the 2026-2027 Canada Fund for Local Initiatives at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

The programme is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada and supports small-scale, high-impact projects conceived and implemented primarily by local partners.

Nine Selected From Nearly 100 Applications

Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica Mark Berman said the 2026 call for proposals was expanded and attracted almost 100 applications, from which nine projects were selected.

The funding round prioritizes three broad areas: inclusive economic opportunities and prosperity; peace and security; and inclusive democratic governance and human rights.

Global Affairs Canada’s 2026 Jamaica call describes the programme as supporting local initiatives designed to produce measurable results. Its priority areas include community-based crime prevention, social cohesion, resilient livelihoods, digital and green skills, financial inclusion, human rights, transparency and citizen participation.

“These aren’t simply nine projects; they are nine investments in what comes next in building forward better,” Berman said at the launch.

Canada Backs Community-Driven Solutions

Berman said the fund enables Canada to work directly with local organizations on solutions developed around community needs.

He said the nine organizations operate in different sectors and communities but share the objective of creating opportunities, reducing vulnerability and building safer and more resilient communities.

Global Affairs Canada says the majority of CFLI funding is directed toward local civil-society organizations and other institutions working at the local level.

Peacebuilding as Part of Public Safety

State Minister in the Ministry of National Security and Peace Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn welcomed the focus on peacebuilding and economic opportunity.

She said security extends beyond responding to crime and includes creating conditions that reduce the opportunity for violence to take root.

Economic Opportunity and Skills

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Sancia Bennett-Templer said the programme can help more Jamaicans gain the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to participate in the economy.

“While each project addresses a different need, they share a common purpose, helping more Jamaicans acquire the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to participate and contribute to the economy and to improve their lives,” Bennett-Templer said.

She said the projects can also contribute to Jamaica’s wider economic transformation through entrepreneurship, digital skills and employment opportunities.

A Wider Canada-Jamaica Development Partnership

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives operates in more than 120 countries eligible for official development assistance. Global Affairs Canada says the programme supports small, high-impact initiatives designed and implemented largely by local organizations, with projects selected by Canadian embassies and high commissions.

The J$22.9-million funding round adds another community-level component to longstanding Canada-Jamaica development cooperation, placing local organizations at the centre of projects intended to strengthen livelihoods, public safety and community resilience.

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