SDC Opens First Call for Administrative Grant Proposals for Fiscal Year 2026–2027

The Social Development Commission (SDC) has announced the opening of the first of two Calls for Proposals under the Government of Jamaica Administrative Grant Programme for the 2026–2027 fiscal year, a critical funding initiative designed to strengthen administrative capacities and advance participatory governance at the community level across the island. The first call is currently open and will remain so until July 15, 2026, with a second call scheduled to run from December 29, 2026, through January 20, 2027. Under the programme, verified Community Development Committees are eligible to receive up to thirty thousand dollars per call, while verified Parish Development Committees may access up to five hundred thousand dollars per call. With two calls scheduled for the fiscal year, each eligible CDC stands to receive a total of sixty thousand dollars annually, and each PDC a total of one million dollars annually. The total grant pool for the year amounts to forty million dollars, with twenty million dollars allocated to CDCs and twenty million dollars to PDCs, distributed across the two application cycles.

Approximately 232 Community Development Committees and 10 Parish Development Committees verified by the SDC Registrar Department are expected to benefit from applying for these grants. Application documents are available on the SDC’s official website and at all SDC Parish Offices. Only verified groups listed on the SDC’s Verified Community Listings Database are eligible to apply, and committees must also meet additional criteria, including having an active constitution, operating for more than one year, maintaining a bank account, and submitting minutes from their last three meetings.

Executive Director of the Social Development Commission, Mr. Omar C. Frith, underscored the importance of the grants in strengthening local governance structures, stating, “These grants are about empowering communities to take charge of their development. We want to support their administrative needs so they can continue making a positive impact.” Mr. Frith further emphasized the Commission’s broader vision, adding, “At this juncture, the SDC is advanced in its thrust to validate and reenergize the meaning of community participation through our governance department, building the capacity of groups and individuals to participate meaningfully at the community level. The Commission is also well advanced in the reactivation and verification of legitimate community-based organizations through our registrar unit. We want to ensure that the grants go to organizations that are committed and have a track record of community service.”

The Administrative Grant Programme is designed to reinforce participatory governance frameworks, boost committees’ capacity to execute impactful projects, and foster stronger relationships between communities and both central and local government entities, with funding intended to support administrative operations including maintaining secretariats and covering utilities. Interested committees are encouraged to submit their proposals before the July 15 deadline for the first call, and successful applicants will be officially notified in writing. For further information, interested parties may contact SDC’s Registry via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 876-577-6979.

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