The EU and OECS Commission Host Regional Training on Climate Finance to Strengthen Investment Partnerships

The European Union (EU), in collaboration with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, successfully concluded a regional climate finance training workshop titled “Designing Bankable Project Proposals to Scale Up Access to Climate Finance.” The workshop, held from March 3 – 6, 2025, at the Bay Gardens Inn in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, was implemented through the Euroclima programme – an EU-funded initiative, co-funded by the German Federal Government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The training, which was a response to a 2024 mandate by the OECS Council of Ministers: Environmental Sustainability (COM:ES), strengthened investment partnerships under the EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Investment Agenda.

It equipped participants with the knowledge and skills needed to develop concrete, investment-ready project proposals, enhancing their ability to leverage European and international climate finance. This initiative served as a gateway for future collaborations with European institutions, development banks, and private investors, ultimately fostering tangible climate action and resilience in the OECS region.

Representatives from the six OECS Member States and the OECS Commission benefited from technical capacity-building sessions, reinforcing the EU’s broader commitment to unlocking European investments in the Caribbean. The training addressed key challenges faced by OECS Member States in accessing global and multilateral climate funds such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Adaptation Fund (AF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The Caribbean region faces significant challenges related to climate change, impacting economies and development. As such, prioritising international climate finance remains critical to supporting adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage response measures that align with regional circumstances. Lowering barriers to accessing finance ensured that delivery was sufficient, predictable, and predominantly grant-based or highly concessional for adaptation, and loss and damage responses.

Additionally, the training focused on enabling private sector financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. Participants received comprehensive guidance on accessing national, regional, and international climate finance sources, including those under the UNFCCC financial mechanisms. They also gained insights into key financial institutions investing in climate finance in the Caribbean and the innovative financial instruments they deploy, with a focus on the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD+). Furthermore, the training enhanced the technical capacities of national stakeholders and the OECS Commission to design bankable climate project proposals that align with the expectations of potential financiers.

By the end of the training, participants were better equipped to design, structure, and prepare high-quality climate finance proposals. They developed a deeper understanding of the submission, review, and appraisal processes of major climate finance mechanisms, reducing the learning curve for future applications.

Additionally, participants became more informed about different funding sources and financial instruments, allowing them to make better decisions about which funding options to pursue. Up to three project concepts or proposals were initiated during the training, which can later be refined for submission to potential funders. The workshop also fostered stronger regional collaboration by enhancing knowledge sharing and information exchange among key stakeholders, promoting a cooperative approach to climate finance in the region.

Commenting on the significance of the training, Chamberlain Emmanuel, Head of the OECS Environmental Sustainability Division, stated:

“In this emerging global landscape of increasing volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), there is an increased need and urgency to accelerate local and regional capacity to mobilize multiple streams of climate finance as we position to fulfill the vision of resilient prosperity for OECS Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This training workshop, supported and facilitated by EUROCLIMA and GIZ, was therefore extremely relevant and timely and was a direct response to a mandate from the OECS Council of Ministers with responsibility for Environmental Sustainability.”

This initiative reaffirmed the EU’s and OECS Commission’s commitment to empowering Caribbean nations to access critical climate finance, ultimately driving the region's sustainable development and climate resilience.

About Euroclima:
​Euroclima is the regional cooperation programme that fosters the strategic partnership between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, based on shared values and a commitment to jointly address climate change and biodiversity loss. It is a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences between countries in the region and with the European Union. It is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It seeks to contribute to sustainable, resilient and inclusive transition through climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, including protection, restoration, biodiversity conservation and the promotion of the circular economy.

About the OECS Commission:
​The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission is dedicated to promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development among its Member States. Through its various programs, the OECS works to enhance economic resilience, social equity, and environmental sustainability in the Eastern Caribbean region.