Government’s promised $5m special grant funding programme for faith-based organisations will officially begin in June, according to Minister of the Third Sector Colin Jordan.
Cabinet has ratified the programme, which is intended to support faith-based organisations in delivering youth-focused initiatives aimed at social development and community engagement.
The funding will support programmes centred on health and wellness, crime prevention, youth engagement and life skills development, among other areas designed to strengthen young people’s participation in society.
Jordan told a post-Cabinet press briefing that the initiative, which was outlined in the Barbados Labour Party’s election manifesto, is intended to support structured interventions led by faith-based organisations, which he described as important partners in youth development.
“We would want matters addressed that relate to access to employment, poverty alleviation, access to education, addressing discrimination, integrating people with disabilities, food and security, and the environment. All of these are areas that we believe would be addressed in these programmes.”
Jordan explained that eligibility will be limited to registered faith-based organisations and affiliated institutions, including churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and faith-based charities.
“Those organisations need to be registered because we ought to remember that we’re talking about public funds. These are public funds, and so they must either be registered as charities, not-for-profit companies, or registered as a third sector organisation with the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector.”
The minister added that organisations must have a physical presence in Barbados and all activities funded under the programme must take place on the island.
“And the activity must take place in Barbados because this is publicly funded and intended for the young people of Barbados.”
Jordan said organisations are also generally expected to have at least three years of registration.
“We have also included a provision that they should be registered for at least three years so that we have some evidence of longevity. However, in developing and designing this programme, we do not want to make it stiff and unresponsive.”
He explained that an evaluation and monitoring committee will have the authority to make exceptions where necessary.
Jordan also stressed accountability requirements, noting that joint applications between organisations must be supported by a memorandum of understanding outlining roles and responsibilities.
“We’ve also included the provision that if more than one faith-based organisation wants to come together to execute a programme, there ought to be a memorandum of understanding because we need accountability and to know who is responsible for what.”
Eligible programmes will include training sessions, workshops, seminars, conferences and broader capacity-building initiatives. But Jordan said individual scholarships, sponsorships and one-off public events will not qualify for funding.
The minister added that all programmes must be non-discriminatory and open to participants regardless of faith, while allowing for targeted interventions where justified by programme design, such as programmes specifically geared towards young men or young women.
Jordan said the government intends to roll out four funding calls per year, with the first expected at the beginning of June.
“We came into office in February and we see this as an important programme — important for individual young people, important for faith-based organisations, and important for society. That is why, so soon after coming into office, we have set the administrative framework in place and are about to start the process of advertising so that organisations can submit their proposals.”
Applications will be assessed based on operational capacity, relevance, effectiveness, sustainability, scalability and budget realism, he said.
Jordan added that the government will also provide assistance to help faith-based organisations prepare proposals, acknowledging that not all groups have experience in formal proposal writing.
He said a seven-member evaluation and monitoring committee will oversee the process. The committee will be chaired by the permanent secretary for religious affairs and will include community development experts, social workers, youth representatives and faith-based organisation representatives.
The committee will also oversee monitoring, reporting and payment schedules, with both mid-term and final reports required from successful applicants.
Jordan said the programme is intended to strengthen long-term youth development while helping faith-based organisations build their institutional capacity and expand the work they are already doing within communities.
(LG)
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