Nine Local Groups Receive $22.9M from Canada Fund for Community Development Projects

Nine organisations have received funding totalling $22.9 million from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) for projects aimed at advancing peacebuilding, economic opportunity and community resilience across Jamaica.

Funded by the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada, CFLI supports small-scale, high-impact projects that are designed to deliver meaningful and lasting impact to communities.

Speaking at the launch of the 2026-2027 CFLI at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday (September 30), State Minister in the National Security and Peace Ministry, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, welcomed the support, and the focus on economic opportunity and peacebuilding.

She noted that security is not only about responding to crime but creating the conditions that reduce opportunities for violence to take root.

Mrs. Cuthbert-Flynn said the Government recognises that building safer communities requires collaboration among various stakeholders, noting that partnerships with organisations such as the CFLI allow communities to participate directly in building the Jamaica they want to see.

She encouraged the nine beneficiary organisations to remain connected to the communities they serve and to measure their success by the impact on people’s lives.

High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, His Excellency Mark Berman, said the CFLI allows Canada to work directly with local organisations to support community-driven solutions.

He noted that this year, the call for project proposals was expanded, resulting in almost 100 applications, from which nine were selected.

Three broad areas were prioritised – inclusive economic opportunities and prosperity; peace and security; and inclusive democratic governance and human rights.

High Commissioner Berman said the projects are intended to address vulnerabilities while creating opportunities and strengthening communities.

“These are nine organisations working in different sectors and communities but connected by a common objective. They’re creating opportunities, reducing vulnerability and building stronger, safer and more resilient communities,” he said.

“These aren’t simply nine projects; they are nine investments in what comes next in building forward better,” he added.

For her part, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Sancia Bennett-Templer, said the CFLI is important to ensuring that more Jamaicans have access to skills, knowledge and opportunities to participate in the economy.

“While each project addresses a different need, they share a common purpose, helping more Jamaicans acquire the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to participate and contribute to the economy and to improve their lives,” she said.

Mrs. Bennett-Templer said the community-based projects also contribute to Jamaica’s broader economic transformation by creating opportunities for entrepreneurship, digital skills and employment.

“They are helping to lay a foundation for the future of persons in each of these communities,” she said.

She congratulated the nine grantees, noting that their work can make a meaningful difference in communities across the country.