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Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Caribbean islands biodiversity hotspot phase II

Jamaican Rock Iguana (Cyclura collei) release, Hillshire Hills, Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA), Jamaica. Credit: CANARI

Supporting civil society to conserve the Caribbean’s highly threatened biologically rich ecosystems that are essential to human well-being (August 2021 – July 2027).

‘The Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot is one of 36 recognised biodiversity hotspots globally. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, an area must meet two strict criteria:

  • Contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants found nowhere else on Earth (known as “endemic” species).
  • Have lost at least 70 percent of its primary native vegetation.

The goal of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is to conserve these biologically diverse and threatened ecosystems through multi-year investments that mobilise local, regional, and international partners. Its approach is to build local conservation leadership and nurture sustainable development by developing locally-driven conservation strategies and providing grants to civil society —nongovernmental, private sector and academic organisations—to implement those strategies.

 

About the project

After a successful first investment in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot between 2010 and 2016, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) has returned to the region for a second phase of investment from August 2021 – July 2027. CANARI is once again the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) for the CEPF Caribbean investment, which totals US$11.8 million.

 

How is this project benefiting the Caribbean region?

The CEPF Phase II Caribbean investment is strengthening the protection and management of globally important biodiversity within 32 priority Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and seven conservation corridors in Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Dominican Republic; Haiti; Jamaica; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. As of March 2025, 11 additional KBAs in The Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have been proritised for investment.

As the RIT, CANARI provides strategic leadership and local knowledge to build a broad constituency of CSOs working across institutional and political boundaries to achieve the conservation goals described in the Ecosystem Profile, the blueprint for the CEPF investment in the region (see Project-related communications).

 

What activities are we undertaking to achieve this?

  • Grant making through small and large grants to support site-based and landscape scale conservation, the preparation and implementation of species conservation action plans, the development of innovative financing mechanisms, the promotion of sustainable livelihood alternatives, as well as increased awareness of, and support for, conservation issues among local stakeholders.
  • Capacity building using a robust programme that includes training, direct one-on-one support to organisations, and mentoring.
  • A complementary component uses Collaborative Social Accountability (CSA) methodologies and tools to facilitate multi-actor, multi-sectoral partnerships for conservation to co-create analyses of conservation problems and develop joint solutions. A Collaborative Social Accountability Team (CSAT), hosted at the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) in the Dominican Republic, in collaboration with Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) in Antigua and Barbuda, is leading this component in the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Saint Lucia. CANARI is leading this component in The Bahamas, Haiti and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

 

What have we achieved so far?

Grants awarded: 67

  • 36 large grants (>$50,000.00)
  • 31 small grants ($5,000.00 – $50,000.00)

Funding committed: US$10.1 million

Organisations supported: 45

  • 31 local Caribbean organisations
  • 14 international organisations

Geographic reach: We are supporting projects in:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • The Bahamas
  • Dominican Republic
  • Jamaica
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Regional initiatives

See our Portfolio Status Infographic for an overview of the investment.

 

Recent project news and information

CEPF Caribbean Islands Phase II portfolio updates

 

Call for proposals

  • Open calls

There are no open calls at this time.

  • Closed calls

View previous calls for proposals here.

 

Recent news and blogs

 

Project-related communication

Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot Useful resources and information

 

Ecosystem Profile

Updated List of Prioritised Species – Revised Appendix 9

 

Ecosystem Profile Summary

 

CEPF Caribbean Hotspot Project Results Framework and Monitoring 

 

Brochure – CEPF Phase II in the Caribbean Islands 

     

    Capacité+ Newsletter

    Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter here.

    Read past issues here.

     

    Visual Stories

     

    Infographics

     

    Resources for prospective applicant and grantees

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

     

    Letters of Inquiry (LOI)

     

    Training Material

    • How to open an account in ConservationGrants for a large grant (Video in English)
    • How to open an account in ConservationGrants for a large grant (Video in Spanish)
    • How to submit a letter of inquiry for a CEPF small grant, Caribbean Islands (Video in English)
    • How to submit a letter of inquiry for a CEPF small grant Caribbean Islands (PDF in English)
    • How to complete a letter of inquiry for a CEPF large grant Caribbean Islands (Video in Spanish)

     

    Meetings & Webinars

    Click here to access recordings and other supporting materials.

     

    Environmental and Social Standards

     

    CEPF Caribbean Phase II Gender Based Violence Service Providers Country Lists

     

    Grievance redress mechanism

    If you have concerns regarding the implementation of a CEPF-funded project, we encourage you to use our Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). We are committed to transparency, and your feedback is vital for effective problem resolution.

    Our GRM offers a structured process for individuals and communities to voice their concerns. By using it, you can ensure that your issues are heard and addressed promptly.

    Learn more about our Grievance Redress Mechanism here.

       

      Environmental and social management framework: The purpose of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) is to ensure that any adverse environmental and social risks and impacts arising from CEPF-funded projects are effectively avoided or, when unavoidable, minimised and mitigated as much as possible.

      Download the project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework in the following languages:

      You can find CANARI’s environmental and social standards instruments that support ESMF compliance here.

       

      Notification of project procurement

      Click here to see a list of contracts awarded under this project, per the World Bank project procurement plan. (Last updated 18.11.2022)

       

      More information about this project

       

      At-A-Glance

      Aim: To improve the capacity of civil society organisations to reduce threats to globally important biodiversity in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot

      Timeframe: August 2021 – July 2027

      Budget: US$11.8M

      Funded by: CEPF is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Canada, the Government of Japan and the World Bank.

      The CEPF Phase II investment (August 2021–July 2027) in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot is financed through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Caribbean Hotspot Project of the World Bank, using funds provided by the Government of Japan.

       

       

      Location: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines & The Bahamas

       

      Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

       

      Other SDGs contributed to:

       

      Related CANARI Programme Areas:

       

      Related CANARI Flagship Areas:

      • Local Ecosystem Stewardship
      • Empowered Civil Society
      CANARI