BUSINESS CORNER
CDB Moves Closer to Finalising
Youth Policy and Strategy
Social Sector
Some of the young participants took time out for a quick photo during the workshop. From left to right: Tijani Christian,
Chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Council; Khea Ireland of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network and Young
Women’s Christian Association, Belize; Entrepreneur and Vybzing 2019 participant Britney Sealy; and Shaquille Knowles,
Chairman of the Caribbean Regional Youth Council.
The Caribbean Development Bank
is moving closer to finalising its
first Youth Policy and Operational
Strategy (YPOS), which will guide
its youth-related investments in the
Region.
On July 27-28, stakeholders from
17 of CDB’s Borrowing Member
Countries (BMCs) met in Barbados
for a regional workshop to discuss
recommendations coming from
the consultations and youth study
the Bank has been conducting to
inform and shape the YPOS.
The workshop brought together
a range of stakeholders in youth
development, including permanent
secretaries, directors of youth,
youth leaders, and representatives
from academia and development
organisations.
Best, noted that the Bank has
provided over US$1 billion for
youth development programmes
and projects over its nearly 50
years of existence, but has not,
to date, adopted a dedicated
policy and strategy to guide these
investments.
“Despite encouraging results from
projects which impact our youth,
we acknowledge that there is room
for even better youth development
outcomes,” stated Best.
He said the YPOS is an important
initiative for CDB as positive youth
development outcomes align
with CDB’s strategic priorities
and are essential to the Region’s
sustainable development.
“This forum matters a lot to us at
the Bank given our mandate to
reduce poverty in our Borrowing
Director of Projects at CDB, Daniel
32 SL-YOU | It’s All About Business
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Member Countries. This will only
be possible if we create societies in
which our youth can thrive.
“More than 60% of our region’s
population is under the age of 30;
this group represents a valuable
resource for the sustainable
development of our Region,” the
Director emphasized.
During the two-day workshop,
participants discussed the
preliminary findings from the study
of the youth development context
in BMCs and identified key priority
areas that require further work in
their countries. They also reviewed
the first draft of the YPOS, making
contributions to develop and refine
it.
The Youth Policy and Operational
Strategy is set to be completed in
the last quarter of 2019.
| September-October 2019