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The Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) programme is a direct targeted poverty reduction programme of the Caribbean Development Bank. Its mission is “To be a community development programme that supports health, education, water and sanitation, access and economic activities through skills training, organisational development and infrastructure and services”.
The Programme supports sustainable asset building and livelihood strategies of communities. Its method of implementation is participatory, allowing for a more socially inclusive development process. Interventions include infrastructure and services, training for income earning and institutional development for social re-adjustment and community organisation and management. Regional Programme activities focus on ensuring compliance with regional and international standards for environmental sustainability, disaster risk reduction, gender equality and project management.
This initiative was launched in 1979 by CDB with financial assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). To date, there have been six replenishments of the BNTF. The seventh BNTF cycle started in 2012 and has three key development priorities:
- Education and Human Resources Development
- Water and Sanitation
- Community Access Roads and Drainage
The participating Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) are: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Documents for BNTF Programme Meeting – October 2012
Mission and Objectives
The BNTF Programme will provide resources to poor communities to improve access to basic infrastructure services, provide temporary employment, enhance economic activity through skills enhancement and reduce beneficiaries’ economic and social vulnerability to risks that impact on income and well being. The Programme is able to respond quickly and through participatory methods that can effectively engage poor communities to assess their assets and determine their priority needs for grant funding.
Active engagement with the community is a priority for the Programme. This process increases critical thinking and decision-making on solutions that benefit the community.
Programme and Project Scope
The term “Programme” is used to describe the current cycle of the BNTF programme which is implemented by CDB at a Regional level. The Programme is managed by CDB at the Regional level, and the Project is implemented at the national (participating country) level.
Regional Level Programme
The Regional Level Programme comprises the following components:
- Programme co-ordination and implementation by CDB.
- Mid Term Evaluation (MTE) by independent consultants to be engaged by CDB, and subsequent distribution to BMCs of the Unallocated Performance Incentive.
Each participating BMC implements the Project at a national level. Within each country’s Project, a number of sub-projects are implemented. The sub-project interventions are basic infrastructure and capacity building activities. These are monitored for their development impact.
National Level Project
The National Level Project comprises the following components:
- Basic Social Infrastructure (Large and Small including Maintenance) and Capacity Building sub-projects.
- Local Institutional Strengthening.
- Local Project Management.
- Technical Services.
Components of the Fund
- Impact of Good Governance
- Poverty Reduction Action Plan
- Environmental Considerations
- Gender Equality
- Capacity Building
- Management for Development Results
Other Related Information
- BNTF Extranet
- Approved Sub-projects
- Interested Contractors
- Participating BMCs
Organisational Structure
The BNTF programmme is organised around four main organisation units:
CDB
CDB provides oversight to the Programme and grants sub-project approvals. CDB also maintains a register of qualified consultants for the provision of services to support Programme delivery.
Project Steering Committee (PSC)
The PSC is the advisory body with responsibility for the coordination and guidance of the BNTF Project within a country. It ensures that sub-projects are aligned within the poverty reduction framework identified in the Poverty Reduction Action Plan (PRAP).
Project Monitoring Committee (PMC)
The PMC is the focal point for community contact and monitoring during the implementation phase of the sub-project.
Basic Needs Trust Fund Office (BNTFO)
The BNTFO with its staff is responsible for the day to day management of Project activities.
Local Offices
Contact any of our local offices via the details provided here.
