As Dominica advances its ambitious goal of becoming the world’s first climate-resilient nation, the Business Training Centre (BTC) has unveiled a groundbreaking eight-month training project designed to build a skilled local workforce capable of supporting the country’s fast-growing green economy. Titled Green Skills Training for Dominica’s Climate-Resilient Workforce, this initiative is made possible through full funding from the Government of Canada, delivered under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) 2026-2027 programme.
Addressing a critical gap in skilled labor for green sectors, the free programme will provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-accredited training across six high-demand technical fields. These areas cover core green economy segments: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), solar and thermal energy system installation, land surveying and construction cost estimation, construction project administration, green vehicle technology for motorbike mechanics, and digital green skills including cybersecurity and data entry management.
In an official statement released by BTC, Managing Director Lucia Stedman emphasized that Dominica’s national climate resilience targets cannot be achieved without a workforce equipped with the right specialized technical capabilities. This programme, she noted, delivers more than just skills training: it will open new employment pathways for 85 young Dominicans while directly building the skilled talent pool the country needs to deliver on its long-term sustainable development vision. Stedman also extended formal gratitude to the Government of Canada for its financial partnership and commitment to Dominica’s climate goals.
The initiative is open to all eligible candidates between the ages of 18 and 45 residing across any part of Dominica. To advance gender equity in green technology sectors, BTC has mandated that at least 60 percent of participants in the Digital Green Skills track will be women, creating more inclusive access to high-growth career opportunities for underrepresented groups.
All six training modules will run for three months each, led by experienced local instructors who hold recognized industry and teaching credentials. After successfully completing their programme, participants will earn an internationally recognized CPD certification, which is widely accepted by employers across the Caribbean and globally. BTC will also provide dedicated job placement support to graduates, leveraging its existing network of industry partnerships with local employers across green sectors.
The full training schedule will run from July 2026 through February 2027, concluding with a formal Green Economy Graduation Ceremony scheduled for February 19, 2027. All 85 graduates will be recognized for their achievement at the ceremony. Applications for the programme are open now, and interested candidates can access and download application forms directly through the official BTC website.