Our History

Home / Our History

Where Caribbean biodiversity, people, and sustainable finance come together.

The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) was established as the realization of a bold vision to create reliable, long-term funding for conservation and sustainable development in the Caribbean region. Currently, the CBF is a regional umbrella environmental fund that uses a flexible structure to facilitate innovative solutions and consolidate regional conservation impacts.

History through the years of 2008 2009 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

2008

CCI launched by The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the 9th Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Germany.

2009

NCTF for the Dominican Republic (Fondo MARENA) becomes operational.

2012

CBF established with US$42 million from TNC, GEF through the World Bank and UNDP, and the Government of Germany through KfW for eight (8) country sub-accounts.

2013

8 governments sign a Leaders Declaration in support of the CCI at 1st CCI Summit. 15 private sector companies sign a Corporate Compact at 1st CCI Summit.

2015

NCTFs for The Bahamas (BPAF), Antigua and Barbuda (MEPA Trust) and Jamaica (NCTFJ) established.

2016

NCTFs for Grenada (GSDTF), St. Kitts & Nevis (SCNCF), St. Lucia (SLUNCF) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVGCF) established. Haiti becomes CBF Observer. SLUNCF and MEPA Trust sign Pre-Financing Agreements with the CBF. Fondo MARENA signs Partnership Agreement with the CBF. CCI signs Partnership MOU with the CBF. CBF’s Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) Facility established with US$26.5 million from the Government of Germany through KfW.

2017

NCTFJ and SVGCF sign Pre-Financing Agreements with the CBF. SLUNCF and MEPA Trust sign Partnership Agreements with the CBF.

2018

CCI and CBF highlighted as “Genuine and Durable Partnerships” at the Small Islands Developing States “Samoa Pathway” meeting. GSDTF signs Pre-Financing Agreement with the CBF. First EbA Facility call for proposals (1CfP) launched.

2019

CBF’s EbA Facility receives 20m Euros top-up from the Government of Germany through KfW. CBF’s Endowment Fund receives 25m Euros from the Government of Germany through KfW to support 4 new country sub-accounts for Cuba, Dominica, Guyana, and Haiti. Guyana joins CBF as Observer. EbA Facility awards first 11 grants from 1CfP. SVGCF, NCTFJ and GSDTF sign Partnership Agreements with the CBF. NCTF for Haiti (FHB) established.

2020

Blue Finance and Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC) sign Partnership MOUs with the CBF. Second EbA Facility call for proposals (2CfP) launched. SVGCF, GSDTF, SCNCF, BPAF and FHB sign Partnership Agreements with the CBF. BPAF signs Hurricane Dorian Recovery Grant with CBF.

2021

OECS and Wayaj Inc. sign Partnership MOUs with the CBF. SVGCF signs Volcano Recovery Grant with CBF. EbA Facility awards first 8 grants from 2CfP. Third EbA Facility call for proposals (3CfP) launched. Inaugural Caribbean Conservation Finance Congress held.

2022

CBF project funded by MesoAmerican Reef (MAR) Fund and ORRAA: “Reef Resilience and Risk Financing in the Greater Caribbean”. Institutional project funded by AFD (French Development Agency) and FFEM (French Facility for Global Environment), the “Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity (CRAB)” project Agreement signed between CBF and AFD / FFEM. Fondo MARENA sign 2nd Partnership Agreement with the CBF.