Replenishment of the SDF-10 at the Caribbean Development Bank - institutional support 2021 to 2024

This grant represents Canada's institutional support to the 10th replenishment of the Special Development Fund (SDF) of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). CDB uses these funds and other donors’ funding to achieve its mandate. Its mandate is to provide loans guarantees technical assistance and policy advice to borrowing member countries. The goal is systematic reduction of poverty through social and economic development by providing low-interest loans and grants to support the poorest and most vulnerable Caribbean countries. Project activities include: (1) building and improving educational facilities and training teachers; (2) improving agricultural production through irrigation drainage and flood management and training farmers in improved production technology and climate smart practices; (3) installing and upgrading water capacity and supply lines for households; (4) building expanding and improving green and sustainable infrastructure. This includes building and upgrading roads sea defences and landslip protections; (5) supporting the development of a vibrant private sector through loans and training to small businesses while also improving the business environment through institutional reforms; (6) installing conventional and renewable power generation capacity; (7) strengthening preparedness and response to climate change and disasters; (8) promoting regional public goods such as trade facilitation or public financial management practices of borrowing member countries; and (9) promoting gender equality across SDF operations by increasing direct programming towards women and girls.

The expected outcomes of this project as stated by the CDB include: (1) improved access to quality inclusive and equitable education and training; (2) improved sustainable agriculture production; (3) improved access to safe reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services; (4) improved access to basic social infrastructure and services; (5) increased provision of quality reliable safe sustainable and resilient infrastructure; (6) improved private sector development and competitiveness; (7) increased access to reliable affordable and modern energy (energy security); and (8) increased resilience and adaptive capacity of national and local institutions and communities to disaster risk and climate change impacts