The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB / the Bank), one of the region’s few entities accredited by the Adaptation Fund, has marked another milestone in advancing climate resilience and regional collaboration. The Bank recently led a dynamic workshop to equip 30 participants from across 11 Caribbean countries with the knowledge and tools to transform bold climate adaptation ideas into fundable, high-impact projects.

Held May 27–30, 2025, in San Pedro, Belize, the “Developing Practical Skills to Build Bankable Climate Change Adaptation Projects in the Caribbean” workshop was hosted in partnership with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT).

The four-day event brought together National and Regional Implementing Entities and Designated Authorities to strengthen their capacity to design adaptation projects aligned with nationally determined contributions and global funding requirements.

Dr. Nesha Beharry-Borg, Project Coordinator in CDB’s Environmental Sustainability Unit (ESU), represented the Bank at the event and emphasized its role in advancing the region’s role in climate finance and resilience-building efforts, stating, “This workshop reinforces CDB’s commitment to helping Borrowing Member Countries access global climate finance and implement solutions that protect lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems.”

CDB plays a pivotal role in enabling countries to access the Adaptation Fund, a global financing mechanism that supports climate adaptation in developing nations under the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.

During the event, Dr. Beharry-Borg was joined by Mr. Derek Gibbs, Climate Finance Specialist in CDB’s ESU, to lead technical sessions on the Adaptation Fund’s project cycle, accreditation process, fiduciary standards, and proposal development. Participants engaged in peer-to-peer learning and hands-on exercises to sharpen their project concepts.

Mr. Garth Simon, Monitoring & Evaluation Associate and Project Technical Officer, Department of Environment, Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation, and the Environment, Antigua and Barbuda, explained the significance of the workshop in regional resilience efforts, "As someone living in a Small Island Developing State, I have seen firsthand how urgent and complex the climate crisis is for our region. This workshop was invaluable in equipping us with the tools to turn our ideas into fundable, high-impact climate projects because access to climate finance isn’t something we want, but a necessity.”

The Bank also shared key lessons from its Building Resilience and Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change in the Water Sector in Barbados (BRACCVAS) project to showcase approaches to stakeholder engagement, adaptive planning, and long-term sustainability—insights that will guide future proposals.

A highlight of the workshop was a field visit to Sarteneja Village in northern Belize, where participants saw how Adaptation Fund investments are supporting fire management and protecting vulnerable coastal communities.

Following the event, participants were encouraged to further develop and submit proposals for potential financing from the Adaptation Fund and implementation by the Bank.

First accredited to the Adaptation Fund in 2016 and re-accredited in March 2023, CDB continues to lead as a key facilitator and knowledge partner in the region. In the face of growing climate risks, the Bank remains at the forefront of expanding access to climate finance, translating strong ideas into scalable, sustainable projects that drive lasting impact across the Caribbean.

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Photo caption: CDB Environmental Sustainability Unit team members, Dr. Nesha Beharry-Borg (back row, fourth from left) and Mr. Derek Gibbs (back row, fifth from left), join participants of the “Developing Practical Skills to Build Bankable Climate Change Adaptation Projects in the Caribbean” workshop for a group photo.