Overview
As part of the EU’s global response to the food crisis, in July 2022, the European Union mobilised EUR 600 million to strengthen food security and develop sustainable and resilient food systems across ACP countries, with EUR 36.5 million allocated exclusively for the Caribbean. The EU-Caribbean Regional Food Security Programme, running from 2023 to 2027, aims to enhance food system resilience, focusing on improving the livelihoods and food security of vulnerable populations. The programme will invest EUR 19 million, implemented through key regional partners: the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), International Trade Centre, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, and EU member state agencies (FIIAPP and CPVA).
The programme's general objective is to enhance the sustainability and resilience of food systems in the Caribbean, promoting food and nutrition security, particularly for vulnerable groups. Specific goals include improving food production systems with a focus on gender sensitivity, enhancing food processing and distribution, expanding social protection systems for agricultural actors, and ensuring equitable access to nutritious diets across the region.
The Investment Project, led by the CDB, will support agri-MSMEs and producers by providing access to finance, fostering innovation, and improving distribution systems to enhance competitiveness and resilience.
Concept Note Template
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The main objective is to improve the resilience and sustainability of food systems in the Caribbean, especially for vulnerable communities. This includes promoting food and nutrition security, boosting the competitiveness of agri-MSMEs, and enhancing access to finance, innovation, and technology in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
Eligible applicants include smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, agri-food SMEs/MSMEs, agro-processors, business support organisations, government and quasi-governmental agencies, private sector organizations, and academic and research institutions within CARIFORUM member states.
Projects eligible for funding should align with one or more of the following areas:
- Increasing access to finance, particularly for women and youth
- Scaling innovative aquatic/agri-tech solutions
- Developing sustainable distribution channels for food products across the region
- Promoting resilience and nutrition-sensitive food production
- Enhancing intra-regional transport and regulatory frameworks for food products.
Individual projects may receive between €400,000 and €570,000, while regional projects (covering more than two countries) can receive up to €670,000. Each funding call has a total allocation of €1,378,273, with multiple projects funded within this limit.
The first call for proposals is open from October 7 to December 9, 2024. The second call will run from March 18 to May 12, 2025.
Yes, counterpart financing is required and varies across the three finance windows:
For projects under Window 1 (access to finance), counterpart financing should be between 10% and 30%.
For projects under Windows 2 and 3 (innovative agri-tech and sustainable distribution channels), counterpart financing of up to 50% is expected.
Projects will be selected on a competitive basis, therefore proposals should align with the programme's objective and demonstrate the principles of feasiblity, sustainability and cost-effectiveness
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Relevance to regional priorities
- Project Design quality and problem analysis
- Effectiveness of the work plan
- Feasibility and risk mitigation
- Sustainability of long-term benefits
- Cost Effectiveness to meet market demands
For further details, applicants are encouraged to review the full evaluation criteria and application guidelines, accessible here.
Presentation
Contact
Cyril Gill
PARTNER
