A panel discussion kicks off the first Caribbean Civil Society Organizations (CSO) conference in Kingston, Jamaica. Credit: Alison Kentish/IPS
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 5 (IPS) – Civil society organizations from across the Caribbean gathered in Jamaica in February 2026 for a historic regional conference, with development leaders pushing for stronger governance, digital preparedness and deeper partnerships to adapt to the changing and increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
Hosted by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through her Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) in partnership with Canada’s Global Affairs Field Support Services Program – Caribbeanthe four-day event brought together 120 participants from 80 civil society organizations (CSOs) from 12 countries.
Held under the theme The Shift: Igniting Civil Society’s Next Chapter and coincides with it World NGO Daythe conference focuses on what organizers call the “collective power” of community-based organizations (CBOs) to advance shared development goals for people and the planet.
‘Cornerstone of resilience’
Opening the conference, CDB officials described civil society organizations as a “cornerstone of resilience” in a region increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks, economic uncertainty and social inequality.
“In our borrowing member countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) are often the first responders during crises and the most trusted advocates in marginalized communities,” said George Yearwood, BNTF Portfolio Manager at the Caribbean Development Bank. “They are steadfast champions of social justice, environmental stewardship, gender equality, youth empowerment and inclusive growth.”
Yearwood said the bank has seen that sustainable results are strongest when “community voices are embedded, from project identification to implementation and monitoring,” adding that the region must move “from commitment to concrete action.”
The CDB official said that during its next strategic cycle, the bank plans to formalize engagement with civil society organizations, create predictable platforms for dialogue, improve access to knowledge and digital tools, expand financing and partnership opportunities and strengthen data-driven, gender-responsive programming.
The conference also responded to findings from 2023 CDB assessment of community groups in Guyana, Jamaica and Saint Lucia, which revealed significant deficiencies in governance and organizational preparedness. According to the Bank, 69 percent of the groups assessed lacked a constitution, almost half had no mission or vision statements and many reported gaps in proposal writing, resource mobilization and awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica Mark Berman said that while Caribbean civil society organizations play an indispensable role in addressing development challenges such as climate vulnerability, youth unemployment and gender inequality, they urgently need support to address systemic challenges.
“We cannot do this without civil society organizations,” the High Commissioner said, warning that “weaknesses in governance, strategic planning, resource mobilization and digital preparedness all risk limiting organizations’ ability to deliver and influence policy in a way that makes sense within the context of modern society and the changes and challenges we now face.”
To address these concerns, the conference program included sessions on governance reforms, results-oriented management, social return 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 invested CAD 1.6 million in 11 projects in seven Caribbean countries, supporting crime prevention, workforce upskilling, youth empowerment, community resilience, environmental protection and climate-smart livelihoods.
Organizers say the conference was not only a capacity building exercise but also a call to action for policy makers to embrace community organizations as partners in national development.
In a region grappling with climate change, budget constraints and shifting geopolitical alliances, speakers repeatedly returned to the concept of collective power. They say the next chapter of civil society will depend on stronger institutions at the grassroots level. “The Shift” is billed as a step to ensure that community organizations, which are at the heart of Caribbean countries, are equipped, heard and valued.
The conference ended on March 27 with a formal ceremony on World NGO Day, bringing together government leaders, development partners and civil society representatives to recognize the contribution of NGOs to sustainable development in the Caribbean.
IPS UN office report
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