Barbados
Table of Contents
BA-T1056 – Capacity Building for Barbados in Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems (US$185,156 earmarked and disbursed) (2018-2021)
Counterpart: Arbitration and Mediation Court for the Caribbean
Objective: To increase access to arbitration and mediation services by the private sector in Barbados
Results: The project’s geographic scope was expanded to include the OECS, in addition to Barbados. A partnership was formed with the Arbitration and Mediation Court of the Caribbean (AMCC), a not-for-profit organization established to offer alternative methods of dispute resolution to assist in the swift, cost-effective resolution of commercial disputes in Barbados and the wider OECS region. A Feasibility Study for the provision of these services was updated (first drafted in 2014 with support from the Compete Caribbean Program). The revised Feasibility Study confirmed the need for arbitration and mediation services, and identified the need to implement legislative reforms and recommended appropriate amendments. A Financial Sustainability Strategy, Implementation Plan, and Budget were also developed, along with a Branding Strategy and a Marketing and Communications Plan.
Training sessions for lawyers were conducted on: Arbitration vs. Litigation, the Barbados Legislative Framework, the Role of AMCC in the region, the Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms to Resolve International Business Disputes, Contemporary Issues in International Arbitration, Expanding Arbitration in lawyers’ and attorneys’ practices, Drafting Effective Arbitration Clauses, COVID-19 and Dispute Resolution, and Mediation as an Effective Tool for Resolving Workplace Conflicts. These courses were attended by 346 participants. A four-day mediation training workshop was also conducted for 22 participants, as well as a 1-day Negotiation Masterclass with 14 participants, a webinar on Construction Dispute Resolution (25 participants), Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution (with WIPO, 22 participants), and on Sports and ADR (78 participants).
The project led to a significant increase in awareness of the importance of arbitration and mediation services and of the AMCC through these trainings, as well as an improved website and social media tools, newsletters, and webinars.
RG-T3224 – MSME Growth Strategy for Barbados (US$56,930 disbursed) (2021-2022)
Counterpart: Ministry of Small Business, Energy and Commerce
Objective: To provide the government of Barbados with a strategy to operationalize the National Policy Framework for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
Results: The MSME strategy for Barbados, developed during COVID, focused on improving the competitiveness and market opportunities of existing MSMEs, including export opportunities, as well as economic reactivation during and post-COVID. The strategy considered the policy pillars set in the National Policy Framework for the Development of Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: legislative, regulatory and business support framework, access to finance, market access, competitiveness and productivity, entrepreneurial skills, knowledge, and competencies. It was developed during COVID by a partnership consisting of a very experienced international consultant and a Barbadian business consultant, and all relevant Ministries and agencies influencing the development of MSMEs were consulted and had roles in the strategy. The strategy was sent for Cabinet approval in 2021 but following a change in leadership of that Ministry, it was no longer considered a priority and was not approved.
BA-T1063 – Strategic Roadmap for the Blue Economy in Barbados (US$360,222 disbursed)(2019-2024)
Counterpart: Ministry of the Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, which was then subsumed within the Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification
Objective: To strengthen the institutional framework for supporting the growth of the blue economy in Barbados.
Results: A key project deliverable was the Integrated Blue Economy (BE) Policy Framework and Strategic Action Plan, which was approved by Cabinet in 2021. Some major highlights of the plan are the Government’s vision for the Blue Economy, recommendations on arrangements and structures for coordinating the development of the Blue Economy, and identification of critical success factors for implementation and robust growth of the national Blue Economy strategy. A Communication Strategy and Action Plan was also developed to define and communicate key messages, the latest trends and opportunities related to the Blue Economy, and promote coordination, dialogue, and partnership among the main Blue Economy actors. The Cabinet approval of the BE Policy Framework and Strategic Action Plan was one of the conditions for the Blue Economy Bond extended to the Government of Barbados (GoB) by the IDB and The Nature Conservancy in 2022.
The project also designed a professional skills development programme in collaboration with Ministry of Environment, National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy (MENB) to strengthen the institutional framework of the different government stakeholders involved in blue economy support, such as MENB, Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Coastal Zones Management Unit (CZMU) and Fisheries Division officers. The program built on the findings and recommendations of a previously completed Blue Economy Institutional Capacity Assessment, which identified three overarching priorities: 1) Enhancing inter-agency coordination capacities, 2) Implementing the blue economy policy, and 3) Supporting the execution of the BE roadmap/long term strategy.
The professional skills development programs consisted of two core courses: i) Introduction to the Blue Economy and ii) Introduction to Ocean Governance, followed by three elective ones: Sustainable Ocean Finance, Marine Protected Areas Management, and Strategic Environmental Assessments, which were delivered to 35 participants from the different public agencies regulating the blue economy, and other stakeholders.
The programme had a stunning 100% certification rate by IDB’s Learning platform – IDBx. Additionally, the full rights of use of the program materials were shared with the GoB to further deploy capacity building initiatives around BE.
Additional support included the sensitization of key ministers and high-level government officials on the strategic objectives and priorities of the Barbados BE Strategic Action Plan, an updated Governance Assessment enabling the operationalization of the Integrated BE Policy Framework and Strategic Action Plan under the new Ministry (MENB), and support to the government in the establishment of an adequate coordinating mechanism to provide strategic leadership for the implementation of the BE agenda. Lastly, the project supported a revamping of the Barbados Blue Economy website reflecting the ministerial changes and the updated BE Governance Assessment.
RG-T3322 – Technology Extension Services (TES) in the Caribbean (2019-2024)
Objective: Technology Extension Services is a form of innovation policy that sought to accelerate the pace at which Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) “catch up” with more advanced firms by transferring cutting-edge technology. This Caribbean-wide project worked with agri-business, manufacturing, and tourism firms.
Results: This project funded 75 technology audits and assessments for MSMEs, with 50 of the firms also benefiting from partial implementation.
Barbados’ Participation
In Barbados, 17 firms in the tourism sector benefitted from technology audits and partial implementation of their assessment plans. The Barbadian firms that received technical assistance include: Earthworks Caribbean Inc, A.M. Enterprises Ltd, All Seasons Resort, Small Hotels of Barbados, Melbourne Inn and Car Rentals, JOSA Investment Inc, Caripita, Villabound Inc, Sea Breeze Beach House, and Veggie Choices.
RG-T4003 -Technology Extension Services (TES) in the Caribbean Blue Economy and Essential Services Sectors (US$46,562 disbursed for Barbados) (2021-ongoing)
Objective: To support firms in the blue economy and essential services sectors in the acceleration of technological diffusion, adoption, and upgrading, thus providing support to the Caribbean in diversifying the blue economy and strengthening the delivery of goods and services in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: This project delivered technology extension services to a group of businesses in every country. In addition, the project implemented a supplementary capacity building plan for a sub-group of women-owned businesses with growth potential.
Beneficiaries from Barbados:
- Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet
- Pennagan Academy of Learning
- Run and Sargassum Inc.
- Sade Jemmott
- The Green Collective 246
- Wisemen Renewables
RG-T3850 Support to Caribbean startups and innovative firms in the Blue Economy (2021-ongoing)
Objective: To support Caribbean startups and innovative firms within the blue economy in scaling up by developing new products and services, innovative business models, and improving their processes. This project had two types of activities: (i) supporting the institutional strengthening of the Institute of Marine Affairs (based in Trinidad and Tobago but with a regional mandate) to stimulate gender-responsive entrepreneurship and innovation in the blue economy; and (ii) providing technical support to startups and innovative firms selected competitively via open innovation challenges.
Barbados’ Participation
Two firms (Blue Bot and Digifish) were awarded under a joint challenge organized with Export Barbados in 2022 – the Barbados Ocean Innovation Challenge.
The BlueBot project is an ocean intelligence business. It allows people who cannot swim, are physically disabled, or fear the water, to access underwater life by diving virtually through underwater robots. BlueBot has also developed a machine learning/Artificial Intelligence application to process data collected underwater – thus helping to address a large global gap in ocean data. As such, it can undertake benthic surveys, underwater content creation, and biodiversity observation. Compete Caribbean supported the incubation of this startup and the development of a new business model, IP protection, the development and implementation of a digital media strategy, and support to the firm’s marketing and networking efforts.
Digifish is a collaboration between two Barbadian firms (Blue Shell Productions and Mr. Fish), Costa Rican technology company Remora and the Fisheries Division of Barbados, to increase the sustainability of fish populations in Barbados and compliance with international regulations regarding fisheries (e.g. ICCAT and upcoming FISMA regulations) while increasing the value of fish exports from Barbados. The project financed the installation of 40 Remora Vessel Monitoring Devices aboard longline vessels and stationed two Smart Scales in the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex. The project also financed a data intelligence and visualization platform that compiles the data collected to determine catch location, calculate fishing effort, analyze landings, and begin the traceability certification process. This phase is being implemented by the Fisheries Department in collaboration with Blue Shell Productions, Remora Fishing Traceability and Mr. Fish Inc. Complementary funding is being provided by Export Barbados.
