Community-Based Enterprise (CBE) in Jamaica — A Full Definition and Historical Context
A Community-Based Enterprise (CBE) in the Jamaican context refers to a locally owned, collectively managed business or economic initiative that is rooted in a specific community and designed to generate income, employment, and social benefit for that community’s members. Unlike traditional private enterprises driven primarily by individual profit, a CBE blends economic activity with social purpose, often reinvesting earnings into local development, infrastructure, education, or cultural preservation.
Core Definition (Jamaican Context)
A Community-Based Enterprise (CBE) in Jamaica can be defined as:
A participatory, locally anchored economic organisation that leverages community assets — land, culture, skills, or natural resources — to create sustainable livelihoods, while ensuring that benefits are retained within and distributed across the community.
CBEs typically operate in sectors such as:
Agriculture and agro-processing (e.g. community farming collectives)
Tourism (community tourism, heritage tours, eco-lodges)
Craft and cultural industries (music, art, Rastafari craft markets)
Fisheries and marine enterprises
Small-scale manufacturing or services
Key Characteristics
A Jamaican CBE is usually defined by the following features:
1. Community Ownership or Control
Ownership may be shared among residents, cooperatives, or trusts. Decision-making is often participatory.
2. Local Economic Retention
Profits are reinvested locally rather than extracted by external investors.
3. Social and Cultural Purpose
Beyond profit, CBEs aim to preserve identity, support youth, reduce crime, or strengthen resilience.
4. Use of Local Assets
These enterprises are built around what the community already has — land, heritage, location, or skills.
5. Inclusive Participation
They often involve women, youth, and informal workers who might otherwise be excluded from formal economic systems.
Historical Evolution of Community-Based Enterprise in Jamaica
1. Pre-Emancipation and Emancipation Roots (Before 1838)
The philosophical roots of CBEs in Jamaica can be traced to collective survival systems among enslaved Africans, who developed informal economies based on:
Shared provision grounds
Barter systems
Cooperative labour (early forms of “partner” and communal farming)
After Emancipation in 1838, freed Africans established “free villages”, pooling resources to purchase land and build self-sustaining communities. These were arguably Jamaica’s earliest forms of community enterprise, combining:
Land ownership
Small-scale agriculture
Informal trade
2. Post-Emancipation Cooperative Movements (Late 1800s – Early 1900s)
As Jamaica transitioned into a peasant economy, cooperative practices expanded, particularly in:
Farming groups
Friendly societies
Credit unions (later formalised)
These early structures reflected a collective approach to economic survival, especially among rural populations excluded from colonial capital systems.
3. Mid-20th Century Development and State Influence (1940s–1970s)
During this period, Jamaica saw increased state involvement in development:
Formation of agricultural cooperatives
Expansion of rural development programmes
Growth of credit unions and cooperative banking
Under the leadership of figures like Michael Manley, the 1970s brought a stronger ideological push toward:
Democratic socialism
Worker participation
Community empowerment
This era formalised many cooperative structures and laid groundwork for modern CBEs, although some initiatives struggled due to political and economic pressures.
4. Structural Adjustment and Community Resilience (1980s–1990s)
Economic reforms and structural adjustment programmes reduced state support for many sectors. In response:
Communities began organising their own income-generating projects
NGOs and international agencies stepped in to support grassroots enterprise
CBEs during this time became survival mechanisms, particularly in:
Inner-city communities
Rural farming districts
5. Rise of Community Tourism and NGOs (1990s–2010s)
This period marked a turning point, with CBEs becoming more structured and internationally recognised.
Organizations such as:
Jamaica Social Investment Fund
Tourism Product Development Company
supported:
Community tourism initiatives
Skills training
Infrastructure development
Community tourism hubs emerged in places like:
Treasure Beach
Cockpit Country
Blue Mountains
These CBEs focused on:
Eco-tourism
Cultural immersion
Sustainable livelihoods
6. Modern Era: Sustainability, Digitalisation, and Global Linkages (2010s–Present)
Today, CBEs in Jamaica are evolving within a more complex economic landscape:
Key Trends:
Diaspora involvement in funding and marketing community ventures
Integration with digital platforms (social media, online booking, e-commerce)
Alignment with sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Focus on climate resilience, especially in coastal and agricultural communities
Government and institutional support continues through entities like:
Planning Institute of Jamaica
Jamaica Business Development Corporation
Examples of CBE Models in Jamaica
While structures vary, common models include:
Cooperatives (farming, fishing, credit unions)
Community tourism enterprises (guesthouses, tour operations)
Social enterprises (youth training linked to production)
Community trusts managing land or heritage assets
Why CBEs Matter in Jamaica
CBEs play a critical role in addressing structural challenges:
1. Economic Inclusion
They provide income opportunities where formal employment is limited.
2. Rural Development
They reduce urban migration by creating local livelihoods.
3. Crime Reduction and Social Stability
By engaging youth and providing purpose.
4. Cultural Preservation
They protect Jamaican identity in the face of globalisation.
5. Disaster and Climate Resilience
Communities with strong local enterprises recover faster from shocks.
Limitations and Challenges
Despite their value, CBEs in Jamaica face real constraints:
Limited access to capital
Weak governance structures in some cases
Dependence on external funding
Market access challenges
Vulnerability to economic shocks and climate events
Conclusion
A Community-Based Enterprise in Jamaica is not just a business model, but a continuation of a long historical tradition of collective survival, adaptation, and empowerment. From post-emancipation free villages to modern eco-tourism ventures, CBEs reflect a uniquely Jamaican approach to development, one that prioritises people, place, and shared prosperity.
In a country navigating global pressures, economic inequality, and climate risk, CBEs remain one of the most grounded and potentially transformative tools for building resilient, inclusive local economies.