Dominica and UN Women launch Cash Plus pilot to support public assistance recipients with skills training, childcare, and job placement support.
Dominica: The Government of Dominica and UN Women Caribbean have signed a landmark agreement to provide support to the women and men who currently benefit from public assistance. The two have partnered to launch a “cash plus” pilot initiative which will create long term sustainability for these citizens, giving them access to job skills training and employment.
On April 21, 2026, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services announced that it had signed a partnership agreement with UN Women to launch an initiative that aims to expand support for people who are already receiving income assistance through the Public Assistance Programme by helping them transition into sustainable employment.
According to the partners, this pilot initiative will address different barriers faced by different men and women when seeking work and “balancing full-time care responsibilities for children and the elderly.”
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In order to support these individuals, the Government of Dominica and the UN Women will provide childcare services, education courses, job skills training and mental, sexual and reproductive health care services to those who will participate in the pilot initiative. All these benefits will allow individuals to transition from government assistance to steady jobs, improving their lives and allowing them to succeed in the long term.
The partner ship agreement was signed by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Cassandra Williams on behalf of Dominica and the Head of Office ad interim for UN Women Caribbean, Isiuwa Iyahen. The agreement was signed on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, where the Ministry held an official signing ceremony in Dominica.
The Ministry has shared that this pilot initiative is under the Build Back Equal (BBE) Project which is partly being funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada.