The Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) will conduct its final workshop on project proposal writing under a Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund) funded programme from September 12-14, 2012. The workshop will be held at the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference Room from 9-12:30 on September 12th and 14th and 9-4:30 on September 13th.

The workshop is designed for business support organisations, namely the member associations of the BPSA. The objectives of the workshop are to:

• Consolidate individual capabilities in key aspects of proposal writing;
• Build practical experience and know-how in project proposal writing and submission;
• Enhance institutional capacity in project proposal writing; and
• Develop capacity to provide training and services in proposal writing.

According to Mr. Joel Richards, Trade Consultant to the Barbados Private Sector Trade Team (A Division of the BPSA) and Project Coordinator:

The workshop forms part of a process which started in March 2011 when the BPSA engaged the services of the consulting firm LPD Hall and Associates which has offices in both Kingston, Jamaica and Christ Church, Barbados.

LPD Hall and Associates were brought on board to work on the BPSA Project Proposal Hub. Essentially, the project was conceived in response to growing concerns within the private sector about the inability of firms and business support organisations to access financial and technical assistance from the regional and international donor agencies. Therefore, over the past year, the BPSA along with LPD Hall and Associates has been working with various firms and associations in helping them to build capacity to access donor resources.

To date, over 100 individuals, firms and associations have benefited from training under the project. The Team from LPD Hall and Associates has also worked directly with firms in developing close to 20 proposals in areas such as institutional strengthening, agro-processing, export market penetration and standards improvement. The project has also resulted in the development of a comprehensive manual on project proposal writing as well as a matrix on donor activities and priorities in Barbados.

The entire project has been funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development through the CARTFund which is being administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).