Frequently Asked Questions

The objective is to provide sustainable financing in support of innovative projects in the Caribbean Region that promote the principles of the circular economy, which includes reducing solid waste, extending the lifecycle of products, and creating sustainable business practices to address marine pollution.

Projects that demonstrate clear circular economy principles while addressing the prevention of marine litter, removal of marine litter (where the waste is further utilized, reused, recycled, repurposed, or proposed for proper disposal), and support knowledge and data generation on the topics of the circular economy and marine pollution in the Caribbean region. All projects will need to have a direct and measurable impact on reducing marine litter, promote a sustainable approach to demonstrate that they can operate financially independently by the end of the project grant funding period, and formulate new and/or strengthen existing partnerships that promote the circular economy in the Caribbean Region.

The Facility will support the following waste streams and sectors:

• Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems

• Littering/open Dumpsite management

• Agricultural plastics

• Synthetic Textiles

• Personal Care and Cosmetics Industry (Plastic Packaging)

• Transport Sector (solid waste components and waste tyres)

• Coastal/Offshore Tourism and Recreation

• Medical Waste Articles such as medical sharps, needles and syringes, disposable masks, bandages, or other dressings, contribute significantly to solid waste

• Abandoned, lost, or other discarded fishing gear (ALDFG)

• Marine Transport Industry

• Disaster Debris Management

Potential grantees include entities such as non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, the private sector – small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), public institutions, regional organisations, research institutions, and academia.

Organisations from outside the Caribbean applying for funding should have circular economy experience/expertise, as well as one or more local partners. It is expected that international organisations applying for grants will incorporate local knowledge transfer and capacity-building activities in their projects.

Yes, this is a barrier. The CBF ACE Facility does not provide grants to individuals. Two years of recent audits and a certificate of registration of the lead applicant are required as part of the concept not submission

Yes. There is no upper limit to the concepts an applicant can submit. Each concept note will be assessed individually on a competitive basis like any other concept and thus compete.

You will need to provide audited financial statements from two recent fiscal years (most recent available) at the concept note stage as described in the template to be qualified for consideration. In lieu of updated approved audited financial statements and/or where separate audited financial statements are not produced or available, Government Ministries can provide draft audited financial statements, management accounts and/or parent ministry financial audits.

Applications can be submitted until “11:59 pm (AST) September 20, 2024”. Concept Notes received after this time will be rejected. Applicants will receive an email acknowledging receipt of their Concept Note at the time of submission.

All concept notes shall be prepared using the template provided and completed entirely for timely submission on or before the date provided by the ACE Facility. Late submissions of concept notes will not be accepted.

Grants may not be assigned, transferred, sub-contracted, mortgaged, or charged by the Grantee in whole or in part without the prior written consent of the CBF. However, third parties may be contracted in accordance with the Grantee’s procurement process and CBF’s no objection to execute specific activities which meet the objectives of the grant.

The responsibility is on the Grantee to staff the project, to ensure the effective and efficient execution of the project to ensure objectives are met following the work plan. As such the human resource management of the Project (i.e. full-time or part-time employment) resides with the lead Grantee.

The geographical focus of the ACE Facility is currently on the insular Caribbean which focuses on Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. These countries are directly eligible for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), as identified by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC).

Applications that include Cuba will only be accepted from institutions that have experience in implementing projects and other activities in compliance with US Government sanctions and regulations concerning Cuba. Applicants must include documentation that demonstrates such experience as well as any additional evidence that provides information on internal systems in place to ensure compliance

Grant funding amounts range from USD 400,000 to USD 2,000,000 and shall have an implementation period of two and a half (2.5) years to three (3) years.

Yes, the template for the concept note is available in three languages (English, French, or Spanish) on the ACE Facility call for proposals page. Follow this link.

All consortium members must be clearly identified, and their commitment be confirmed. The relevant experience and contribution of all consortia members will be assessed. As such, it may be useful to list the partner’s relevant project expertise. Partner co-finance should be included in the budget. In-kind support may include labour, travel costs, and equipment that is provided for the project. There should be a clearly defined lead agency, the “Applicant Organisation”, as detailed in the concept note template. This agency, if successful, would be the responsible contract party.
In the case, of consortia, all members must submit a signed declaration on appropriate letterhead, including the following:

“We have read and approved the content of this application to the ACE Facility and agree to comply with the roles and responsibilities detailed in this project concept. We confirm that the project can be executed according to the proposed timeline considering a start date in Q1 of 2025”, with signature, name, position, place, and date.”

No. The requirement is that applicants use the ACE Facility concept note template that is available on this webpage. Note that the EBA Facility and the ACE Facility have distinct processes and objectives.

Co-financing shall be stated in the concept note. Grantees will be required to provide co-financing as follows:

• Non-profit organisations (CBOs, academia, local and regional NGOs) – 25% co-financing (in-kind and cash inclusive)
• Government Institutions; Statutory Bodies or Quasi-government Institutions – 25% co-financing (cash only)
• Regional Organisations – 50% co-financing (25% cash and 25% in-kind)  
• For-profit private SMEs, NGOs, CBOs – 50% co-financing (25% cash and 25% in kind)  

The current priority scope of the ACE Facility’s First Call for Proposals is solid waste streams and sectors. Organic waste, sargassum, and wastewater management are not directly eligible under the scope of the ACE Facility but may be considered as a secondary or indirect benefit. Consideration should be given to the elaboration of the project targets in accordance with the ACE Facility Log Frame and Facility objectives related to marine litter management.