Making Waves

Making Waves

29

A Caribbean Social Innovation Guide

Barbados Data Bites Country Profile Snapshots

48 %

26 %

01 . Understanding Social Innovation in the Caribbean

of mapped actors come from the private sector, demonstrating growing collaboration between businesses and community organisations to create shared social and economic value.

of mapped social innovation actors are from civil society, highlighting the vital role that NGOs, community organisations and grassroots groups play in driving social change across Barbados.

25.7 % National Poverty Rate Roughly a quarter of the population struggles to afford basic necessities

2 %

99 % National Literacy Rate A premier regional educational baseline representing the island’s highly capable, latent talent pool.

88.2 % of mapped organisations are dedicated incubators or accelerators, revealing a significant opportunity to strengthen support for early-stage social innovators. Program Implementation Rate The incredibly high percentage of mapped local organizations that are actively running real community projects.

21 %

28 %

Youth NEET Rate The percentage of young Barbadians who are currently Not in Employment, Education, or Training, highlighting the critical urgency for youth-focused enterprise pathways.

The Monitoring & Evaluation Gap The small minority of active groups that possess formal, established data tracking and impact evaluation systems.

60 %

5

Thematic Innovation Poles The ecosystem is structured around five strategic Innovation Poles: Economic Empowerment; Education & Capacity Development; Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability; Entrepreneurship & Social Economy; Digital Transformation.

Frontline Female Leadership The percentage of executive management and director-level roles held by women within mapped social purpose ventures and civil society groups.