Caribbean Organizations for a Resilient Environment (CORE) Project

Published Date: November 15, 2023

Caribbean Organizations for a Resilient Environment (CORE) Project

The Caribbean Organizations for a Resilient Environment (CORE) Project helps Caribbean communities adapt to climate change by strengthening local organizations and empowering women to lead environmental solutions.

CORE focuses on eight Caribbean countries: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. The project supports Conservation Trust Funds, women’s rights organizations, environmental groups and youth organizations that are working on the frontlines of climate and biodiversity challenges.

Partnership and Funding

CORE is implemented by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund in partnership with Global Affairs Canada.

The Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), invests CAD 8 million (USD 6 million) in the CORE Project.
The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund cofinances this with CAD 5.3 million (USD 4 million) from the CBF Endowment Fund.
Together, this creates a total investment of CAD 13.3 million over four years from 2023 to 2027.

Through this partnership, CORE channels resources directly to communities and organizations so they can design and implement inclusive and gender responsive nature based solutions that protect both people and the environment.

How CORE works

CORE supports the mainstreaming of inclusive and gender responsive approaches throughout the Caribbean Sustainable Finance Architecture so that climate and biodiversity solutions reach local communities in practical and lasting ways.

The project focuses on four main areas of work.

1. Training and mentorship

CORE helps Conservation Trust Funds and partner organizations to:

Conduct gender analyses and gap assessments.
Design tailored mentorship programmes based on organizational needs.
Deliver gender responsive training packages, including tools and resources for boards and staff.
Strengthen understanding of gender equality, social inclusion and human rights.
Build partnerships between environmental organizations and women’s rights organizations.

2. Gender Smart Facility

Through the Gender Smart Facility, CORE invests USD 3 million in grants for community level projects. Funding is distributed through the eight participating Conservation Trust Funds.

Supported projects must demonstrate clear benefits for women and vulnerable groups and focus on inclusive, gender responsive nature based solutions, including:

Ecosystem based adaptation, such as mangrove protection and forest restoration.
Sustainable agriculture and circular economy initiatives.
Biodiversity conservation that also supports local livelihoods.

The Facility helps ensure that women in all their diversity can access biodiversity and climate finance at both community and national levels.

3. Gender Smart Facility Hub

CORE is establishing the Gender Smart Facility (GSF) Hub as a regional learning and knowledge exchange platform. The Hub will:

Provide Conservation Trust Funds and partners with practical tools and resources for gender responsive conservation.
Facilitate peer learning and sharing of experiences across countries.
Support monitoring and reporting on gender responsive climate and biodiversity outcomes.

4. Better data and learning

CORE strengthens Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning systems so that organizations can:

Collect and use gender disaggregated data.
Develop and implement risk mitigation measures.
Measure impact on different groups, particularly women and vulnerable communities.
Inform evidence based, gender responsive decision making for sustainable development.

Knowledge Products Developed Under CORE

The CORE Project develops practical knowledge products to strengthen governance, organisational capacity, and gender-responsive climate action across National Conservation Trust Funds (NCTFs). These products capture lessons learned and provide tools that support better decision making, accountability, and institutional development throughout the Caribbean conservation finance network.

Board Governance Mentorship Program Report
A comprehensive overview of the 2024–2025 governance mentorship initiative delivered to 12 National Conservation Trust Funds. It includes training participation data, board self-assessment results, gender representation achievements, governance gaps, tool uptake, and recommendations for strengthening NCTF governance.
Download the Board Governance Mentorship Program Report
Conservation Trust Fund Practice Standards Assessment
A baseline evaluation of NCTF performance across seven governance areas using the 2020 Practice Standards for Conservation Trust Funds. The report highlights governance maturity, strengths, gaps, and priority capacity-building actions across the region.
Download the CTF Practice Standards Assessment

Additional knowledge products will be added as they are developed under the CORE Project.

📅

2023

Project mobilisation, partner coordination and design of the Gender Smart Facility and CORE capacity building approach.

🛡️

2024

Baseline governance and practice standards assessments, delivery of training, mentorship planning and launch of the first Gender Smart Facility grants.

🤝

2025

Consolidation of tools and governance resources, continued mentorship, and publication of CORE knowledge products.

💰

2026

Scaling successful approaches and integrating governance, gender and risk management systems across National Conservation Trust Funds.

🌍

2027

Final impact assessment, documentation of lessons and embedding the Gender Smart Facility Hub within the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund.

Expected Results by 2027

Stronger governance across National Conservation Trust Funds

Boards will demonstrate clearer oversight, stronger accountability systems and improved alignment with regional Practice Standards.

More capable and gender-responsive organisations

Partners will integrate gender-responsive approaches into planning, project design and monitoring, with better tools to support inclusive decision making.