The effects of the ongoing global financial crisis have intensified pre-existing economic pressures faced by the Commonwealth Caribbean including declining investment, productivity levels and employment. One measure that has played a role in countries like Botswana, Ireland and Barbados achieving high levels of development and economic stability is the use of social partnerships. Social partnerships rely on cooperation between government, private sector and the labour force in the development of strategies to address immediate and long-term economic and social challenges. This paper evaluates the value of social partnerships as a governance tool for the Commonwealth Caribbean by examining the experiences of Botswana, Ireland and Barbados, as well as the less-than-successful attempts to implement a social partnership in Jamaica.