By CARICOM Secretariat
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has introduced a new regional initiative, “Strengthening the Youth Development Landscape: A Capacity Building Programme for Strategic and Sustainable Action,” which began in June 2026.
The two-year programme equips youth directors, officers, and leaders across CARICOM with practical tools and strategies for designing, implementing, and sustaining impactful youth development initiatives. Delivered virtually, it covers project planning, grant writing, monitoring and evaluation, social media engagement, mental health first aid, and leadership skills.
Michele Small Bartley, programme manager for youth development at the CARICOM Secretariat, highlighted the importance of the initiative:
“As youth development issues continue to emerge and become more complex, there is a growing need to equip key youth stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools required to design, implement, monitor, and sustain effective programmes and interventions that respond to the needs of our young people.”
By strengthening institutional capacity and advancing positive youth development, the programme supports implementation of the revised CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan (CYDAP) and the Youth Development Index.
The programme will benefit approximately 180 CARICOM youth directors, officers, and leaders.
It aims to build a stronger cadre of youth practitioners empowered to advance a resilient, future‑focused CARICOM youth agenda.