Barbados

Canada's Commitment
Looking Ahead

A small island nation northeast of Venezuela, Barbados has strong democratic traditions and a well-educated population. However, the country still has pockets of poverty and its economy has been hit hard by reductions in tourism and declining exports due to trade liberalization.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) provides assistance to Barbados largely through regional projects that target the entire Commonwealth Caribbean. CIDA's current priorities in the Commonwealth Caribbean are:

• environmental management
• governance
• private sector development
• social development

Canada's Commitment

Barbados is an active participant in CIDA programs designed to increase the ability of Caribbean states to compete for trade and investment in the global economy. These programs focus on strengthening government fiscal management, upgrading skills in the public and private sectors, and improving the ability of organizations to represent regional interests in trade negotiations.

Caribbean islands, such as Barbados, are feeling the effects of climate change- increasing severity of storms and rising sea levels. CIDA programs are assisting countries to adapt to these changes and reduce the impact of natural disasters.

Through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, CIDA provides assistance to Barbadian community groups and organizations working to increase social equity. The Agency also supports HIV/AIDS prevention programs and targeted initiatives to promote equality between women and men and reduce violence against women.

CIDA supports Canadian non-governmental organizations and institutions working in partnership with their counterparts in the region. Among the organizations working in Barbados are Oxfam Canada and the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada.

CIDA supports the work of multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, as well as United Nations agencies and other multilateral development institutions. Through its Multilateral Programs Branch, the Agency offers humanitarian assistance to victims of conflict and natural disasters. The Branch also supports regional disaster preparedness activities and channels food aid through the World Food Programme.

Looking Ahead

CIDA will continue to work with Barbados and other countries in the Caribbean to strengthen and diversify the region's economies, provide effective social services and improve governance. Positive changes in these areas will help make the region more resilient in coping with economic shocks and natural disasters.