OUR PROGRAMS
Driving sustainable growth through healthy ecosystems, and turning marine litter into opportunity across the Caribbean.
Photo: Tanja Lieuw
FUNDED BY
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Nature-Based Economies ensure that ecosystem conservation becomes a source of capital for development and sustainable livelihoods, while preserving the health of marine and coastal ecosystems. The program reimagines conservation as a driver of economic opportunity, so that protecting nature supports progress rather than holding it back.
Like other Small Island Developing States, the Caribbean faces complex waste management and environmental challenges. Limited land space, high waste management costs, dependence on imports and inadequate infrastructure put urgent pressure on the region's biodiversity and coastal communities.
Marine pollution, biodiversity loss and unsustainable resource use undermine the very ecosystems Caribbean people depend on for livelihoods, food security and resilience.
We promote a circular economy model that decouples economic growth from resource depletion, guided by three core principles.
Through the program, CBF supports initiatives that:
Reduce marine pollution by promoting circular economy practices among public and private actors
Protect and sustainably manage marine and coastal ecosystems, safeguarding biodiversity and essential ecosystem services
Generate economic opportunities that improve livelihoods
Sustainable ecosystem management unlocks economic opportunities, from sustainable fisheries and ecotourism to waste reduction enterprises, that improve livelihoods and strengthen local economies.
Healthy ecosystems provide clean water, flood protection, climate regulation and habitat for marine and terrestrial life. Protecting these systems protects communities.
Nature-based approaches equip communities to adapt to climate change, environmental shocks and resource constraints, building long term resilience from the ground up.
Photo: Tanja Lieuw
FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE
The ACE Facility reduces marine litter across the Caribbean by promoting circular economy principles among governments, businesses and communities.
Launched in 2022, it is funded by KfW Development Bank on behalf of Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and managed by CBF. Through strategic grants and technical support, it backs solutions that transform waste management, reduce plastic pollution and create business models rooted in resource efficiency.
Establishing a financing mechanism for circular economy interventions in the Caribbean.
Implementing circular economy measures that achieve a measurable reduction of marine litter.
Strengthening the capacity and awareness of public and private actors on circular economy principles and methods.
The facility awards grants through competitive calls for proposals and is expected to finance up to 20 projects through the end of 2028. Funded projects apply circular principles to prevent waste from entering the marine environment or to remove existing marine litter.
Eligible grantees: NGOs · Academic institutions · Public institutions · Community-based organisations · Private sector entities
Photo: Tanja Lieuw
The ACE Facility prioritises projects that demonstrate:
The facility focuses on nine primary beneficiary countries. Select a country to see our work there.
Other insular Caribbean countries and territories eligible for official development assistance (OECD DAC list) may benefit through regional projects.
CALLS FOR PROPOSALS
The ACE Facility awards grants through periodic calls for proposals, inviting organisations across the region to submit projects that tackle marine pollution, promote waste reduction and create circular economy solutions.
Check that your organisation and project meet the facility's criteria.
Share a brief outline of your project idea for initial review.
Selected applicants are invited to submit a detailed full proposal.
Successful projects receive funding and technical support to deliver their solutions.
Contact our team for guidance on eligibility, requirements and project development. Calls are announced on our Calls for Proposals page.
FIRST CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Selected through the first Call for Proposals, these grantees are delivering scalable circular economy solutions to marine litter and plastic pollution. Download each project's fact sheet.
Key documents for applicants, grantees and partners.
We welcome collaboration with governments, businesses, NGOs and communities committed to turning conservation into opportunity.
