BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, October 5, 2026: Development practitioners can now register for the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) new Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) Gender E-Learning Series, a suite of free, self-paced courses focused on strengthening gender equality, social inclusion and safeguarding in community development. 

Available through the Bank’s e-learning platform, the three-course series is designed to expand access to practical learning that can help participants embed gender-responsive, social inclusive approaches and effective safeguarding practices in the design and delivery of community initiatives. Each course takes 45 to 60 minutes. Participants will receive a CDB-issued certificate recognising their successful completion of each course.

Registration for all e-learning courses is open from October 5 to 30, 2026 and available here. Participants may register for more than one course and complete them at their own pace between November 4 and December 4, 2026. Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email.  

Developed as part of BNTF's commitment to mainstreaming gender equality throughout the project cycle, the BNTF Gender E-Learning Series builds on the recently launched Gender Toolkit and provides practical, accessible learning opportunities for development practitioners, government partners, contractors, civil society and community-based organisations and community stakeholders. Together, the toolkit and courses strengthen the capacity of organisations and individuals to design, implement and manage more inclusive, equitable and safer development interventions. 

"Gender equality is one of the cross-cutting priorities of our Basic Needs Trust Fund Programme. These courses represent another key step in strengthening the knowledge, skills and safeguarding practices needed to deliver development projects that are inclusive, responsive, and safe for everyone," said Dr. Martin Baptiste, Division Chief, Social Sector Division, at CDB.  

The BNTF Gender E-Learning Series includes: 

The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response in Infrastructure Projects Course (45 minutes) equips contractors, consultants and personnel responsible for supervising infrastructure projects with practical guidance to prevent and respond to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), including Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH). Participants will also learn about CDB safeguarding requirements, procurement obligations, survivor-centred approaches, and practical measures to reduce risk on project sites. 

The Gender-Inclusive Community Development in Caribbean Contexts Course (60 minutes) introduces participants (e.g., Community Liaison Officers, National Gender Machineries, and other development practitioners) to the principles and practice of gender-responsive community development. Learners will develop practical skills in conducting gender analysis, preparing gender action plans, executing inclusive and participatory engagement, identifying gender inequalities, and designing gender-responsive indicators that strengthen development outcomes across diverse Caribbean communities. 

The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response for Caribbean Community Development Projects Course (60 minutes) focuses on preventing and responding to SGBV within community development initiatives. Designed primarily for Community Liaison Officers, National Gender Machineries, and other development practitioners, it provides practical guidance on safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), survivor-centred approaches, and safe, accessible, and confidential complaints and feedback mechanisms throughout the project cycle. 

“Each course has been designed to provide practical, immediately applicable knowledge that participants can use to strengthen project planning, implementation and community engagement while promoting accountability and safeguarding across development programmes,” said Dr. Maria Ziegler, Senior Gender Specialist at CDB. 

The BNTF Gender E-Learning Series forms part of CDB's broader efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, improve project quality and promote equitable access to development opportunities and benefits and inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development throughout its Borrowing Member Countries. 

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