The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector is pleased to announce the call for proposals under the 2025 People Development Third Sector Grant Facility, an initiative designed to facilitate partnerships with the third sector for the development of the people of Barbados, social inclusion, and national development goals through strategic, community-based interventions.
About the Grant Facility
This initiative supports the Government of Barbados’ long-term commitment to national empowerment through inclusive growth, skills development, and community engagement. It reflects the Ministry’s focus on building resilient, capable citizens who are prepared to lead and contribute to sustainable social and economic transformation.
The facility offers grant funding of up to BDS $30,000 per approved proposal, targeting third sector organisations that are advancing sustainable development and people empowerment across Barbados. Proposals must align with at least one of the following seven strategic priority areas:
1. Education and Training for People with Disabilities
Accessible, customised education and training programmes
Inclusive educator training
Advocacy to remove educational and employment barriers
2. Innovation and Enterprise
Science, Technology, Arts, Engineering, and Mathematics, (STEAM) education promotion
Training for entrepreneurs
Startup and Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) supported ecosystems
Intellectual property development
3. Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) for Emerging Sectors
Industry-aligned, demand driven training for green, blue, and orange economies
Continuing and second chance education and training
Professional development of competency-based educators and trainers
Career guidance and labour market opportunity awareness
4. Health and Wellness
Health and wellness programmes in workplaces
Public awareness on healthy lifestyles and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) prevention
Mental health and work-life balance initiatives
Crime prevention interventions focusing on the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to crime
5. Youth Engagement
School-to-work transition programmes
Training for vulnerable young people
Expanded internships and apprenticeships
6. Life Skills Development
Training development and delivery of life skills
Teachers training and train the trainers
Research, monitoring and evaluation to identify critical core skills needs
7. The Care Economy
Training and certification for care workers
Employment promotion in the care economy
Access to quality, affordable care (children, elderly, people with disabilities)
Research and policy to support the development of the care economy
Proposals will be evaluated against six (6) key criteria: operational capacity, relevance, effectiveness and feasibility, sustainability, scalability, and budget efficiency. The top three (3) proposals will be recommended for funding.
The deadline for submission is Friday, July 18, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
For more information, please visit the Ministry’s website at www.labour.gov.bb. The People Development Third Sector Grant Facility Policy and Guidelines, including the application form and submission details, are also available upon request at pdgf@labour.gov.bb. All queries may be directed to the same address
