CAF and UWI WJC Launch Programme to Promote Spanish language learning in Jamaica and the Caribbean

A new initiative aimed at advancing Spanish proficiency in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean has been launched by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, in partnership with The University of the West Indies, Western Jamaica Campus. The SOMOS (Spanish Opens More Opportunities) initiative kick-started with the first in a series of workshops focused on Spanish for Employability, held at the RIU Palace Hotel in Montego Bay.

The workshop convened key stakeholders from Jamaica’s education, tourism, and business sectors to begin developing a strategic roadmap for strengthening Spanish language education and promoting it as a tool for market diversification, economic growth and increased regional cooperation.

The programme will raise awareness of the benefits of Spanish proficiency, provide concrete recommendations for enhancing Spanish education by aligning curricula with industry needs, and serve as a platform for new partnerships between governments, educational institutions, and businesses. One key outcome will be the identification of good practices relevant for Spanish language learning in the Caribbean and the development of a roadmap to guide future action.

CAF and UWI WJC signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to strengthen collaboration within the framework of a wider Memorandum of Understanding between CAF and The University of the West Indies. The agreement outlines key areas of partnership, including promoting regional integration through educational and cultural exchange programmes, expanding access to high-quality multilingual education for Caribbean participants, and supporting the teaching and learning of Spanish as a driver of increased intra-regional trade with Latin America.

Given that Spanish is the second most widely spoken language globally with over 500 million speakers, Spanish proficiency offers significant advantages for Caribbean citizens. By 2030, Latin America’s GDP is projected to reach USD 3 trillion, while the GDP of Spain is expected to reach USD 2.1 trillion. Over the past decade, Spanish companies have made substantial investments in the region’s tourism sector. In Jamaica alone, Spanish investors have injected approximately USD 2.1 billion into the tourism industry, with recent commitments for an additional USD 2 billion.

Studies show that bilingual workers earn higher salaries than their monolingual counterparts, while multilingual skills in the tourism sector contribute to greater visitor satisfaction and repeat visits. This initiative, therefore, brought key actors together to discuss practical steps for overcoming challenges faced in training, curriculum development as well as assessment frameworks for Spanish language education.

Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, CAF Regional Manager for the Caribbean, emphasized the importance of addressing these challenges and reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to supporting national policies that advance Spanish education.

CAF has already invested in language and education initiatives across the region. In December, the bank approved a USD 100 million Resilient School Infrastructure and Spanish Language Learning Programme for Trinidad and Tobago’s education sector. Similarly, in Panama, CAF supported the Panamá Bilingüe programme, which improved the employability of students through teaching of English as a second language. By 2018, the initiative had trained over 3,000 teachers and benefited more than 130,000 students.

Dr. Tomlin Paul, Deputy Principal of The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, highlighted the alignment between SOMOS and the university’s goal of increasing multilingual graduates.

“We see this workshop as more than just a discussion, it is a commitment to action. We must work together as educators, policymakers, business leaders and engage our students to ensure that Spanish becomes a core skill for employability and economic advancement,” stated Dr. Paul.

Mr. Pablo Bartol, Social and Human Development Manager at CAF, reinforced the organization’s dedication to language education. “We recognize that language is a powerful tool. Through the SOMOS initiative, we are committed to supporting policies and programs that equip individuals with the language skills needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.”

With this initiative, CAF and its partners are taking concrete steps to expand Spanish language education across the Caribbean.