‘Canada is starting to walk the talk’

Local not-for-profit entities can now submit proposals for an opportunity to benefit from the Local Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF) under the Field Support Services Project Caribbean (FSSP-C) funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

Available are short-term grants for six months to a year for CDN$20,000 to CDN$50,000 (approximately J$ 2.2 million to J$ 5.7 million). Long-term grants for up to two years for between CDN$50,001 and CDN$100,000 (approximately J$11.4 million) are also available. Applicants will be required to provide 10 per cent cost share contribution in kind or cash. LEAF will fund capacity building, technical support, administrative services and other project-related costs.

Eligible organisations are those which fall under the categories of non-government, civil society, community-based, charitable and women’s rights organisations and benevolent societies, foundations, associations, public educational institutions, national departments and agencies.

Dr Wayne Henry, director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), in his remarks at the launch of the fund held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday, stated that it would become a critical component of the nation’s development agenda through supporting vulnerable groups.

He noted that the objectives of the fund – which is geared at strengthening the support provided to organisations working in vulnerable sectors by improving access to financial resources to enhance their mandate – align well with goal number one of Jamaica’s long-term strategic developmental plan, Vision 2030, which speaks to citizens being empowered to achieve their fullest potential.

“As Jamaica seeks to implement social programmes such as the PIOJ’s Community Renewal Programme, we are also cognisant that the needs on the ground far outweigh the resources available through Government,” he said.

He stated that the assistance provided under LEAF would strengthen the support of community organisations that interact with the most vulnerable, such as school drop-outs, at-risk youth, unemployed individuals, victims of crime, the elderly, and persons living with disabilities.

“These vulnerable groups are faced with many development challenges, including high levels of unemployment, limited or no opportunities for training and employment, low skills levels, high levels of high school drop-outs, poor parenting, and negative perceptions or stigma of the community in which they reside ... and higher rates of poverty,” he said.

Henry continued that as Jamaica is an upper-middle income country facing persisting economic, social and climate-related challenges, it was necessary for the nation to position itself where it can access funds at the regional level.

He also expressed appreciation to GAC, which has been assisting Jamaica for 60 years to advance common goals and to address the challenges faced locally.

The main objective of the LEAF is to strengthen the support provided to local organisations working in vulnerable sectors across eight Caribbean countries to address key developmental issues and improve access to financial resources to enhance their mandate.

Canadian High Commissioner Emina Tudakovic highlighted that Canada was working “more seriously” to push its involvement in supporting locally led development. As a result, she said that Canada, along with 14 other donors, has committed to fund local development work through the signing of a December 2022 joint donor statement.

“I’m proud to say that Canada is starting to walk the talk on localisation, including here in Jamaica,” she said.

In a testimonial, Everton Robinson, co-founder of the Pathway Skyline Rejuvenation Centre located in Old Harbour, St Catherine, expressed that through collaboration with the Canadian High Commission in 2022, women from low-income households in the area were empowered to build greater economic and social resilience.

Established in 2020 during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PSRC was formed to provide individuals access to educational resource materials and to facilitate an interactive experience through direct online methods.

So far, the PSRC has delivered 10 parent business development training and support workshops for 20 parents, who were also able to receive a stipend. They have also engaged 20 vulnerable youth for a three-week period in a community summer-school initiative. Twenty art and craft packages and childcare packages were also distributed, along with 20 tablets, to students and parents.

Robinson said that the programme helped parents to better relate to their children and, by extension, their spouses.

“There are new businesses that were developed from this engagement. We’ve seen persons already expanding ... [and] some of them have [developed] new skill sets,” he said, adding that they have diversified themselves and have been transformed after realising their potential.

The LEAF may support issues related to gender equality, human rights, environment, climate change and biodiversity, sexual and reproductive health rights, gender-based violence, youth engagement and organisational development.

Other countries eligible for funding are Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

Persons interested in contacting LEAF can call Bridgette Barrett at 1 876-525-6634 or sent an email to canadaleaf@wusc.ca.

asha.wilks@gleanerjm.com