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CVSS to strengthen western Jamaica’s civil society with three-day training workshop
May 5, 2026
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KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS), Jamaica’s umbrella body for civil society, is hosting its Western Region CSO Training Workshop Series from May 12 to 14, under the theme: “From Idea to Impact – The Project Cycle.”This intensive three-day capacity-building series, implemented under the EU-funded AIM Programme, is designed to strengthen community-based and non-governmental organisations (CBOs/NGOs) as effective actors of governance and development, the CVSS said in a release.Nancy Pinchas, executive director of the CVSS, said following extensive consultations and needs assessments, CVSS tailored the series to address key capacity gaps identified among civil society organisations (CSOs) in project design, management, and accountability.She noted that the workshop will feature four interactive sessions led by experienced facilitators: Community Engagement and Prioritisation, facilitated by social transformation specialist Damion Hylton; Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), led by monitoring and evaluation expert Zahra Miller; Project Proposal Writing (Parts I II), delivered by Sannia Laing Sutherland; and Gender and Human Rights: Change G.E.A.R.S.
Series, facilitated by gender expert Carla Moore.Pinchas said each facilitator brings deep sectoral expertise, ensuring practical, results-orientated learning experiences. She informed that pre- and post-assessment data from prior sessions confirm measurable improvement in participants’ knowledge and confidence across key project management competencies.“We recognise that many civil society organisations have the passion and ideas to transform their communities but often need the technical support to bring those ideas to life in a structured and sustainable way. This training series is about bridging that gap, equipping organisations with practical tools to design strong projects, measure their impact, and remain accountable to the people they serve,” she said.“As we also look ahead to a new legislative framework for the sector, initiatives like these are critical in ensuring our organisations are prepared, resilient, and positioned to contribute meaningfully to national development,” she added.The Montego Bay series represents CVSS’s continued commitment to decentralising access to training and empowering grassroots organisations across Jamaica’s regions. It follows successful sessions held in Kingston earlier this year and signals a broader national effort to equip CSOs with the tools to design, implement, and sustain impactful initiatives that advance inclusion, accountability, and community resilience.The workshop concludes on Thursday, May 14, with collaborative learning and closing remarks over lunch, celebrating the participants’ achievements and fostering a stronger network of engaged civil society leaders.The event will also include a session to discuss legislation and policy for the sector as Jamaica moves toward introducing a new Non-Profit Organisations (NPO) Act expected in October 2026. The proposed legislation, intended to modernise the regulatory framework governing nonprofits, will directly affect thousands of organisations delivering services in disaster response, social protection, and community development across the island.
Jamaica Observer
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