The five-year program will focus on increasing the capacity of local training institutions to deliver gender-sensitive skills training programs that meet economic and environmental needs in the region, by leveraging the expertise of Canadian colleges and institutes.

“We look forward to this continued collaboration… to tackle pressing challenges linked to climate change”

The ultimate goal of the program is a more qualified labour force for employment in key economic sectors vulnerable to climate change.

A total of 10 Canadian colleges and institutes will partner with twelve local Caribbean partners across the SAGE program’s six countries of focus: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and St. Lucia.

The CAD$15 million program is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.

“We are incredibly pleased to launch this new program, which builds on a proud history of partnership between Canadian and Caribbean TVET institutions,” said Denise Amyot, president and CEO of CICan.

This includes our own CARICOM Education for Employment Program that concluded in 2018 and helped roughly 2,000 students – across 12 countries – graduate from new TVET programs.

“We look forward to this continued collaboration as we work together to tackle pressing challenges linked to climate change while investing in the resilience of Caribbean learners, post-secondary institutions, and businesses,” Amyot added.

A three-day orientation session will follow the program launch to provide an opportunity for all participants to develop a shared understanding of the SAGE program.

Presenters will focus on the required partnership outcomes and frameworks in place for the undertaking of gender analysis, projection of green skills, development of occupational standards, the awarding of Caribbean vocational qualifications, and curriculum development.