St. John’s, March 5, 2021 – The Department of Environment, Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) announced the national launch of the project, “Enhancing Caribbean civil society’s access and readiness for climate finance”, on February 25, 2021. The project is funded by a US$1.29 million grant from the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Ambassador for Climate Change and Director, Department of Environment, H.E. Mrs. Diann Black-Layne, welcomed the support of the GCF and highlighted that “Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have a role to play in Antigua and Barbuda’s national climate change response. There is a need to step up climate action globally as we feel more effects from climate change. CSOs and NGOs are a force of good for community building in Antigua and Barbuda so the Department of Environment will continue to work with them on the national response to climate change. There are also many community, NGO and CSO groups with infrastructure that will be affected by climate change…. and they will need support to climate proof their infrastructure through accessing climate finance.” She also thanked CANARI for their ongoing support in implementing this valuable initiative to promote civil society leadership to build local resilience. CANARI Senior Technical Officer and Project Manager, Dr. Ainka Granderson, highlighted that “Civil society initiatives are often small-scale and piecemeal as they lack the necessary funding and technical assistance. However, CSOs are well positioned to lead bottom-up approaches to tackle the climate crisis in Antigua and Barbuda and the wider region. Mobilising funds from GCF and other climate funds is key to better support civil society and channel resources to the most vulnerable communities and groups.” She welcomed the collaboration with the Department of Environment and civil society in Antigua and Barbuda to make this a reality.
The goal of the project is to build the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs), including national non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and resource user groups such as farmer and fisherfolk associations and cooperatives, to access and deliver climate finance and build climate resilience in the Caribbean. It will enhance CSOs’ knowledge, skills and organisational structures, and strengthen institutional mechanisms to enhance civil society voice and participation in climate change decision-making nationally and regionally
It is being implemented from February 2020 to August 2022 by national designated authorities to the GCF across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States, with targeted activities in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Suriname. The Climate Change Division, Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change in Jamaica is the lead authority. CANARI is serving as the implementing entity for the project.
For more information on the project, see: https://canari.org/csos-ready-for-climate-finance