Five CARICOM countries to benefit from multi-million-dollar project.

INCHEON, South Korea, CMC – The Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC) on Wednesday welcomed the Green Climate Fund’s decision to fund the Climate Actions for Building Resilience in Coastal Communities (CABRIC) project.

The US$44 million five-year project is regarded as a major investment in locally driven climate adaptation across the Caribbean and will benefit The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Lucia.

It will strengthen local institutions, improve access to adaptation funding, and equip communities with the resources and knowledge to respond to growing climate threats.

“We welcome the Green Climate Fund’s approval of the CABRIC project, a transformational investment that will provide critical support to vulnerable coastal communities in five Caribbean countries,” said CCCCC’s executive director, Dr. Colin Young.

“This project has been intentionally designed to ensure that grant resources reach the communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, while placing women and girls at the center of project design and outcomes,” he added.

The CCCCC said the CABRIC is centered on a US$25 million locally led adaptation grant facility, which will finance community-driven initiatives through three grant windows, with funding of up to US$500,000 per project.

Investments will support climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable fisheries, mangrove restoration, early warning systems, climate-resilient health facilities and initiatives addressing the social and psychological impacts of climate change.

The director of the Climate Change & Environmental Advisory Unit in The Bahamas, Rochell Newbold, expressed delight in the multi-country project’s focus on locally led adaptation, which she said is essential to ensuring climate finance reaches the most vulnerable communities.

“I appreciate the provision of the grant-based financing and the leadership of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center as the regional direct access entity, and its involvement and relationship with the five countries, which will ensure that the outcomes and objectives of this project are fully realized,” said Newbold, who is also the GCF Alternate Board Member.

“I think this proposal is a strong example of country ownership, which will empower these communities and build resilience.”

Complementing these investments, the project will provide technical assistance to strengthen local organizations’ ability to develop and manage adaptation projects, while supporting gender-responsive coastal policies.

The CCCCC said a regional Knowledge Hub and community of practice will also facilitate the exchange of practical experience, climate risk information and lessons learned among participating countries.

“CABRIC will place adaptation finance and decision-making closer to vulnerable coastal communities in The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica and St.Lucia,” said Kristin Lang, GCF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Its locally led grant facility will support at least 118 subprojects, while the wider program will strengthen the capacity of local organizations and reach nearly 1 million people. GCF’s investment will build institutions while financing solutions shaped by local needs, ” Lang added.

As a regional accredited Direct Access Entity of the GCF, the CCCCC will work alongside the five participating countries and grant administrators to facilitate project delivery, building on its mandate to support CARICOM member states in accessing and implementing climate finance.

“I want to express gratitude to the five beneficiary countries for the continued confidence they have placed in CCCCC as a regional direct access entity. I acknowledge our CCCCC team who led the development of this proposal, and the five national grant administrators, who are critical partners for success,” said Dr. Young.

“We are grateful to the Green Climate Fund for its continued confidence in and support to the CCCCC as a regional accredited Direct Access Entity. We remain committed to mobilizing and delivering climate finance that strengthens the resilience of our Member States against the worsening impacts of climate change,” he added.

CCCCC said CABRIC’s approval will pave the way for an approach that combines direct community investment with institutional strengthening and regional collaboration, helping ensure participating countries are better equipped to address present and future climate risks.