Young leaders from across the Caribbean will gather in Nassau, The Bahamas, next week for the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Youth FIRE Forum (YFF), a two-day event aimed at exploring practical solutions to some of the region’s most pressing economic, social and environmental challenges.
The forum, scheduled for June 1 and 2, 2026, will take place ahead of the 56th Annual Meeting of the CDB Board of Governors, which is being held under the theme “Forging the Caribbean’s Future: Strategic Solutions for Uncertain Times.”
The Youth FIRE Forum will bring together youth leaders, innovators and development partners to discuss issues including climate resilience, digital innovation, social inclusion and sustainable economic growth. Participants are also expected to contribute recommendations that will help shape CDB programming and regional policy discussions.
President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Daniel Best, said the initiative reflects the Bank’s commitment to placing young people at the centre of regional development efforts.
“Caribbean youth are not simply the leaders of tomorrow; they are essential partners in the solutions we need today. The Youth FIRE Forum is CDB’s commitment to ensuring their voices, ideas, and energy are at the centre of our region’s development,” Best stated.
The opening ceremony on June 1 will be co-hosted by inaugural members of CDB’s Future Leaders Network (FLN). Opening remarks are expected from President Best, Bahamas Minister of Youth and Sports Mario Keith Bowleg, as well as youth representatives Asha-Gaye Cowell of Jamaica and Kiran Halkitis of The Bahamas.
The first day of discussions will feature thematic sessions focused on youth livelihoods and economic opportunity, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, climate and energy resilience, and issues surrounding youth justice and community reintegration.
Organisers said the day will conclude with a collaborative “Outcome Harvest” session designed to identify key recommendations and priority actions for inclusion in the Youth FIRE Outcome Statement.
Activities on June 2 will centre on the Youth FIRE Intergenerational Dialogue, led by President Best and featuring Minister Bowleg alongside youth representatives Rianka Chance of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Stephen Richards of Jamaica, and Amilcar Peter Sanatan and TeHilla Maloney-Joseph of Trinidad and Tobago.
The dialogue is expected to focus on employment, innovation, resilience and the partnerships needed to secure long-term prosperity for Caribbean youth.
Ahead of the dialogue, participants in the Youth Co-Creation Lab will finalise the Youth FIRE Outcome Statement, which will outline recommendations for regional governments and the Caribbean Development Bank. An interactive Youth Innovation Hub showcase will also highlight youth-led initiatives and entrepreneurial projects from across the region.
The forum will conclude with the introduction of the second cohort of the Future Leaders Network, comprising young leaders and innovators between the ages of 18 and 35 from the Bank’s 19 Borrowing Member Countries.
According to the CDB, the Youth FIRE Forum forms part of its 10-year strategic plan, “Transforming the Caribbean for Resilience,” which identifies youth empowerment as a critical component of regional transformation and innovation.
Public sessions from the Annual Meeting and the Youth FIRE Forum will be streamed live on the Caribbean Development Bank’s YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn platforms. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled to be livestreamed on June 1 at 8:30 a.m. AST, while the Intergenerational Dialogue will air live on June 2 at 3:00 p.m. AST.
