LONDON, United Kingdom (CMC) — Four Caribbean nationals, including two Jamaicans, have been named as regional finalists for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.

The other finalists are from Asia, Africa, Europe and Canada and the Pacific.

The London-based Commonwealth Secretariat said that 977 applications had been received from across the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 independent countries, mostly former British colonies, collaborating on shared goals of democracy, peace and prosperity.

The Secretariat said that after a rigorous two-stage judging process led by 57 Pan-Commonwealth adjudicators, the four Caribbean nationals have emerged from a list of 20  young social entrepreneurs, climate champions, innovators, and health advocates this year’s finalists.

The Caribbean finalists are Moesha Allen and Nahjae Nunes of Jamaica, Kaveer Phillip of Trinidad and Tobago, and Ishmael Nicholson of Belize.

Allen is a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the founder of Helping Youths Pursue Excellence (HYPE), an initiative that reaches more than 10,000 youths through mentorship, literacy programmes, behaviour modification, Police Youth Clubs and the Safe School Programme.

Nunes is an international development policy practitioner reducing inequality by embedding children and youth evidence in public decision-making. He helped negotiate several UN General Assembly resolutions adopted by 193 states and co-chaired the CHOGM 2024 Youth Taskforce that produced the Apia Youth Declaration. At the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), he has authored flagship publications on child poverty and supports several Commonwealth countries on social development concerns.

For his part, Nicholson is a founder of RISE Belize, which serves as a uniter for youth organisations, inspiring them to become agents of change. He successfully led advocacy efforts to initiate the update of the National Youth Policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations.

The Trinidadian Phillip is the founder of The Carbon Sync, a non-profit organisation that focuses on increasing awareness of nature-based solutions through tree planting. It has planted over 450 trees and directly educated and benefited more than 4,000 people.

As a decarbonisation professional, Kaveer has led work on carbon dioxide removal technology, electric vehicles, recycling and climate finance that has positively impacted communities, companies and entire countries.

Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, in congratulating the 20 finalists, said, “At the Commonwealth Secretariat, we believe that young people must be at the forefront of shaping solutions. Their research, innovation and voice are essential to the future we are trying to build. A future where these young leaders are empowered to tackle poverty, fight for climate justice, advocate for education, and bring hope to communities in need across our 56 nations.”

“We are committed to recognising, nurturing and celebrating these young changemakers by creating platforms such as the youth awards that spotlight their potential on a global stage.”

“For over a decade, the Commonwealth Youth Awards has provided a platform for young people to utilise international networks and access funding to support their projects,” she added.

The Secretariat said that the 2026 ceremony will showcase the impactful contributions of the Commonwealth’s partners and accredited organisations. It said breaking new ground, this year sees six additional finalists shortlisted for the inaugural Patsy Robertson Award for Outstanding Communication Skills in honour of Robertson, described as “a powerhouse in journalism and a tireless advocate for women in media”.

The Secretariat said that the prize celebrates the voices shaping a fairer, more open world.

The top regional winners and the winner of the Patsy Robertson Award will be announced during a special ceremony on March 11, with one of the 20 finalists being awarded the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year.

The finalists will receive a £1,000 (One GBP=US$1.35 cents) grant, a trophy and a certificate. Five top regional winners will receive an additional £2,000. The Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will receive an additional £2,000, bringing their total to £5,000.

The winner of the Patsy Robertson will receive a trophy, a certificate and a £1,000 cash prize.