Strengthening the Competitiveness and Resilience of MSMEs in Jamaica’s Agro-Industrial Value Chains
The Industrial Development and Technology Transfer among the Member States of the Caribbean Community project, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with funding from the Government of Japan began in 2024 and will run through 2029. Component 1.3 of the project seeks to strengthen Jamaica’s agriculture and agro-industrial sectors through technology transfer, institutional collaboration, and capacity building. This initiative is designed to modernize production and processing systems, enhance resilience, and improve competitiveness in key value chains including coffee, cocoa, and spices, in close partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining (MOAFM), the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).
As the demonstration country for the project’s technology transfer component, Jamaica plays a central role in showcasing innovative and scalable approaches to agro-industrial development. Despite its importance to rural livelihoods and exports, the sector continues to face persistent challenges including low productivity, outdated technologies, limited value addition, and vulnerability to climate-related shocks. Many micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) also struggle with access to modern equipment, technical expertise, and the capacity to meet evolving market standards.
To address these challenges, UNIDO is partnering with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) to implement a targeted initiative aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of MSMEs operating in agro-industrial value chains. Through this collaboration, selected enterprises will receive capacity building support focused on technology transfer which will introduce modern technologies that enhance production and processing capabilities, as well as technical capacity development through training, knowledge sharing, and tailored advisory services designed to improve productivity, product quality, and market readiness.
Call for Applications
As part of this initiative, a Call for Applications is open to invite eligible MSMEs to apply for participation in the programme. The call will run from Thursday, April 16 to Friday, May 15 at 11:59 p.m. Jamaica time, during which interested enterprises will have the opportunity to submit applications to receive targeted support packages aligned with their production and processing needs.
The Call for Applications will also place special emphasis on MSMEs that were affected by Hurricane Melissa, which caused significant disruption to Jamaica’s agriculture and agro-processing sectors in October 2025. By equipping these enterprises with improved technologies, technical skills, and knowledge, the initiative seeks to support business recovery while strengthening their resilience to future shocks and stresses.
Eligibility
Manufacturing enterprises that meet the following criteria can apply:
- Legally registered business in Jamaica
- Manufacturing enterprises affected by Hurricane Melissa
- Business in the following sectors: food/agro-processing, furniture and wood products, and wellness & cosmeceutical
- Commitment from the top management (in the form of a commitment letter)
- Assignment of focal person(s) for the project
- Data disclosure (related to production, finance, quality control, energy consumption, etc.)
- Women-led/women-dominated, youth-led/youth-dominated enterprises are strongly encouraged to apply.