CAF Grant to Boost Spanish Proficiency & Competitiveness in Barbados

A group of Barbadian students and teachers will travel to Panama for a two-week language and cultural immersion as part of a new initiative by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and the Government of Barbados. The programme is designed to strengthen Spanish language learning and promote greater integration between the Caribbean and Latin America.

The study visits form part of a new Technical Cooperation Project valued at approximately USD 100,000, titled “Enhancing Capacities to Communicate in Spanish.” Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education Transformation and the Ministry of Finance, the initiative combines practical language learning experiences with the development of national policy to enhance the country’s capacity for Spanish language education and enhanced proficiency in the use of Spanish.

The Technical Cooperation will focus on three main components.

• Student Immersion – a group of secondary school and university students together with accompanying teachers will participate in a study visit to Panama. This will include daily Spanish classes through established linguistic programmes, cultural visits, and innovation workshops designed to improve communication skills and promote intercultural awareness.
• Teacher Training and Development - Barbadian Spanish teachers will travel to Panama for a professional development programme focused on advanced communication, modern language teaching methodologies, and peer exchange with Panamanian institutions.
• National Roadmap - a country diagnostic and roadmap will be developed to guide evidence-based policy actions for promoting Spanish language learning in Barbados, including recommendations for integrating language education across sectors such as education, trade, tourism and business.

CAF’s Regional Manager for the Caribbean and Representative in Barbados Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy announced the initiative on Friday 14 November 2025 at the Launch of the development bank’s SOMOS (Spanish Opens More OpportunitieS) initiative. She highlighted that this project is a tangible demonstration of CAF’s commitment to accelerating people-centred development and enhancing Caribbean competitiveness through education and language learning.

“Through this grant funding, CAF is forging new avenues for young Barbadians to practise Spanish language and experience Latin American culture through immersion programmes,” she said. “There are well-documented benefits to learning a foreign language, from greater access to employment to enhanced national competitiveness and increased trade and tourism opportunities. Our intention is to support a comprehensive integrated programme to boost Spanish proficiency across Barbados.”

CAF’s Social and Human Development Manager, Pablo Bartol stated, “this is an initiative to which CAF is deeply committed because human capital development is central to the region’s competitiveness. Promoting Spanish language proficiency connects people with opportunities and builds the foundation for stronger integration between the Caribbean and Latin America.”

This initiative builds on the launch of SOMOS in Barbados, which kickstarted with a High-Level Dialogue entitled ‘Promoting the Teaching and Learning of Spanish for Increased Competitiveness.’ The Dialogue brought together Cabinet Ministers, senior government officials, academia, the private sector and the diplomatic community to examine how Spanish proficiency can strengthen national competitiveness and to agree on the coordinated actions required to advance this agenda.”

The SOMOS – Spanish Opens More OpportunitieS initiative is a CAF-led regional programme that promotes Spanish as a bridge for cooperation, trade, and cultural exchange between the Caribbean and Latin America.  It was also launched in Jamaica in March of this year.