20 Caribbean women entrepreneurs awarded USD 420,000 in grants through CDB

Twenty women-owned and led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (WMSMEs) from seven Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) borrowing member countries have been awarded a combined USD 420,000 in grants aimed at helping them scale operations and reach new markets.

The funding, provided through the Bank’s SheTrades Caribbean Regional Hub’s “Grow and Go” Grant Facility, will also support operational and technical upgrades to strengthen each business.

The SheTrades Caribbean Hub — a partnership between the CDB and the International Trade Centre (ITC) — is designed to accelerate the growth, export readiness, and global competitiveness of women-led businesses across the region. This year’s grant process was highly competitive, attracting 106 applications. Winners were selected for their strong business viability, innovation, and growth potential.

“In a fast-changing global trade environment, access to finance remains one of the biggest hurdles for women entrepreneurs,” said Lisa Harding, CDB’s Division Chief of the Private Sector Division. “The SheTrades Caribbean Grow and Go awards are more than grants — they are keys, unlocking export opportunities and giving women-led businesses the tools, confidence, and platform to thrive on the world stage.”

The recipients represent Barbados, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, with businesses spanning agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, health and wellness, creative industries, ICT, and tourism. Using the ITC SME Diagnostic Assessment Methodology, each will receive a tailored development plan to guide expansion and boost their presence in regional and global value chains.

“These grants are both a celebration of achievement and a strategic investment in the entrepreneurial capacity of Caribbean women,” said Kayanne Anderson, Regional Coordinator of SheTrades Caribbean. “The businesses selected reflect the creativity, resilience, and innovation that drive our region forward.”

In the coming weeks, awardees will participate in a storytelling campaign and mentoring initiatives to inspire other women entrepreneurs. Following this pilot phase, the CDB will assess the programme’s impact to inform future efforts to strengthen the global competitiveness of women-led businesses in the Caribbean.