The Shift: Igniting Civil Society’s Next Chapter
In a landmark gathering held in Kingston, Jamaica this past February, civil society groups from across the Caribbean convened for what organizers are calling an inaugural conference. The event, themed "The Shift: Igniting Civil Society’s Next Chapter", coincided with World NGO Day and brought together 120 participants from 80 civil society organizations spanning 12 nations in the region.
A Cornerstone of Resilience
Hosted by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through its Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) in partnership with Global Affairs Canada’s Field Support Services Programme, the conference opened with powerful rhetoric from regional leaders. George Yearwood, BNTF Portfolio Manager at the Caribbean Development Bank, described non-governmental and community-based organizations as a "cornerstone of resilience" in a region increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks, economic uncertainty, and social inequality.
"Across our borrowing member countries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) are often the first responders during crises and the most trusted advocates in marginalised communities," said Yearwood. "They are steadfast champions of social justice, environmental stewardship, gender equality, youth empowerment and inclusive growth."
From Commitment to Concrete Action
Yearwood emphasized that sustainable outcomes are strongest when "community voices are embedded from project identification through implementation and monitoring", adding that the region must move "from commitment to concrete action". According to a 2023 CDB assessment, 69 percent of community groups assessed lacked constitutions, nearly half had no mission or vision statements, and many reported significant gaps in proposal writing, resource mobilization, and awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals.
A Regional Response to Systemic Challenges
Mark Berman, Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, acknowledged the indispensable role Caribbean civil society organizations play in tackling developmental challenges like climate vulnerability, youth unemployment, and gender inequality. However, he cautioned that weaknesses in governance, strategic planning, resource mobilization, and digital readiness all risk limiting organizations’ ability to deliver and influence policy meaningfully.
"We can’t do it without CSOs," the High Commissioner said, while cautioning that "weaknesses in governance, strategic planning, resource mobilisation and digital readiness all risk limiting organisations’ ability to deliver and influence policy in a way that is meaningful within the context of modern society and the changes and challenges we are now facing."
Building Capacity for the Future
To address these systemic challenges, the conference programme featured sessions on governance reform, results-based management, social returns on investment, financial resilience, and the use of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to strengthen advocacy and impact measurement. Through its Local Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF), Global Affairs Canada has already invested CAD 1.6 million across 11 projects in seven Caribbean countries, supporting crime prevention, workforce upskilling, youth empowerment, community resilience, environmental protection, and climate-smart livelihoods.
The Collective Power of Community
As the conference concluded, organizers emphasized that civil society’s next chapter will depend on stronger institutions at the grassroots level. Speakers repeatedly returned to the concept of "collective power", noting that in a region grappling with climate change, fiscal constraints, and shifting geopolitical alliances, community-based organizations remain at the heart of Caribbean development. The Shift is being billed as a transformative move to ensure that community organizations, which are at the very core of Caribbean resilience, receive the institutional support needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.