The Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) poverty-fighting flagship programme, the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) has unveiled an ambitious plan for its ninth cycle. The Bank has negotiated more funds for the BNTF, taken steps to improve the programme’s efficiency and effectiveness, and will strengthen partnerships with the private sector.

These innovations are being outlined to BNTF stakeholders during a series of project launch workshops, which are taking place in the nine participating countries, where stakeholders will also receive guidance on implementing the new cycle.  

CDB’s Acting Portfolio Manager for BNTF, George Yearwood, said the countries stand to benefit from a grant allocation of USD 40.8 million, which could be boosted by funding secured through private sector partnerships.

“CDB has negotiated increased contributions for the Special Development Fund, to secure grant resources for BNTF sub-projects to tackle poverty in the Region. Also, the Bank will seek to leverage additional resources through partnerships with the private sector, charities and other civil society organisations,” said Yearwood.

He also noted that Country Projects found to be performing well during the mid-term review may be in line for additional funding.

“The funds from BNTF are to be carefully targeted through an evidence-based Country Policy Framework or action plan which responds to poverty, particularly in rural areas. And, CDB has set aside an incentive amount of USD 5.2 million, which will be distributed at mid-term based on project performance,” added Yearwood. 

Other changes designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the BNTF programme and to accelerate social transformation include:

• restructuring of implementing agencies in some countries;
• expansion of the areas of support to include livelihoods enhancement;
• shortening the process flow from identification to implementation;
• increasing the upper limit of a sub-project’s cost to USD1 million;
• improving CDB’s internal processes for sub-project appraisal and approval; and
• introducing new tools for enhanced monitoring and evaluation.

Project launch workshop were held in Saint Lucia on October 4 and 5, and in Guyana on October 9 and 10. Other launches already scheduled include Jamaica on October 17 and 18; Belize on October 23 and 24; Grenada on November 7 and 8, and Suriname on March 30 and 31, 2018.

BNTF’s ninth cycle was approved in March 2017, and will run until December 31, 2020.  Under the eighth cycle, BNTF allocated USD 12.388 million for supporting projects in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Turks and Caicos Islands.