Having disbursed $3.6 million in grant funding to seven training projects designed to make Barbadian businesses more competitive, the Competency-Based Training Fund (CBTF) is now encouraging training institutions and employers to take advantage of their second round of funding.

This call for proposals follows a series of information workshops held recently, for providers and employers interested in making use of the fund, to better equip them to develop and submit proposals which meet the evaluation criteria.

Speaking at the launch, which was held earlier this month at Accra Beach Hotel, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, stressed the benefits of developing the Barbadian workforce through these types of programmes.

???We are focusing on [economic] growth with jobs,??? she said, ???and this training [provided by the CBTF] is specifically to ensure that the jobs we???re preparing our workforce for are higher waged jobs.???

Almost $10 million is still available through the CBTF for training projects which are focused on equipping employees and potential employees to demonstrate practical skills needed to make industries and the economy more competitive.

While the prospect of attaining these funds will attract many applicants, Minister Byer Suckoo was quick to remind interested persons and partnerships about the standards to which they must adhere when submitting proposals.

???We all appreciate that financial resources are finite. It is expected therefore that a high degree of efficiency will be reflected in all proposals submitted. The resources requested must be used substantially for competency-based training, assessment and certification. Therefore all other associated costs must be reasonable and kept to a minimum,??? she pointed out.

This second call for proposals ends on Tuesday, September 30. Proposals that comply with three criteria will be reviewed and ranked by the CBTF???s Technical Reviewing and Selection Committee, while those that do not meet the criteria will be sent back to the partners with comments. They will also be invited to resubmit their proposals in latter cycles.

Further information is available on the fund???s website, www.cbtf.com.bb, or by calling the CBTF office at (246) 227-9090.

jamal.hall@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest