The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank) will convene regional and international experts for a high-level seminar examining how innovative debt instruments can help Caribbean countries strengthen resilience, unlock fiscal space, and advance sustainable development.

The seminar, “Innovative Debt Solutions: Financing a More Resilient Caribbean,” takes place on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. local time at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Bank’s Board of Governors in Nassau, The Bahamas. This highly anticipated session brings together representatives from multilateral development banks, governments, credit rating agencies, and development partners.

Against a backdrop of high public debt, climate vulnerability, and constrained fiscal space across the Caribbean Region, discussions will focus on practical and scalable financing mechanisms that can reduce debt servicing costs while supporting critical investments in resilience, climate adaptation, social protection, and sustainable development.

“Innovative debt solutions can help Caribbean countries reduce financing costs, strengthen debt sustainability, and create fiscal space for critical resilience investments,” said Stefano Capodagli, Chief Risk Officer at CDB. “This seminar will explore how coordinated regional approaches can turn financial innovation into tangible development impact.”

A key area of focus will be the emerging Regional Multi-Guarantee Debt-for-Resilience (MGDR) initiative, a collaborative approach involving multilateral development banks including the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank (WB), and Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). The initiative seeks to support sovereign debt conversion transactions that improve borrowing terms and channel savings into resilience-building investments.

The 90-minute seminar will also examine lessons learned from debt conversion and refinancing initiatives already undertaken in the Caribbean, including experiences from Barbados and other CDB Borrowing Member Countries.

“Debt-for-resilience mechanisms offer the Caribbean an important opportunity to align debt management with sustainable development priorities, while supporting long-term economic resilience and growth,” said Ian Durant, Director of Economics at CDB.

The session will be a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Capodagli and featuring panelists Jason Cotton, CDB Lead Economist, Gabriel Felpeto, Vice President of Finance, CAF; Joan Oriol Prats, Principal Financial Specialist, IDB; Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean; Joshua Grundleger, Director, Sovereign Analytical Group, Americas, Fitch Ratings; and Hon. Ryan Straughn, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Government of Barbados.

The discussion will explore how coordinated debt-for-resilience mechanisms and multi-guarantee structures can help Caribbean countries improve debt sustainability, reduce borrowing costs, and create fiscal space for strategic investment in resilience and sustainable development.

The seminar forms part of the wider programme for CDB’s Annual Meeting, which runs from June 1-5, 2026, and this year centres on advancing practical, collaborative solutions to help the Caribbean navigate uncertainty, strengthen resilience, and accelerate sustainable development.

All public sessions will be livestreamed on CDB’s YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook channels.

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