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People dressed in professional attire pose for a photo at a grant award ceremony.
Grant Recipients Recipients of Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund and Bahamas Protect Areas Fund grants pose for a picture. © Digital Shark

Caribbean Currents Newsletter

Barbados and The Bahamas Trust Funds Present First Grants

The BESF and the BPAF awarded their first grants to local organizations advancing community-led conservation across the respective countries.

March 09, 2026

Barbados

At the Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund’s (BESF) inaugural Grant Award Ceremony last November, eight beneficiaries received a total of BBD $1.2 million in financing to advance sustainability in Barbados. The grant disbursements came after the Fund solicited initiatives that advance environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and environmental protection and then selected projects in a competitive process.

The projects represent a significant advancement for the organization and the island's endeavors to safeguard and preserve its natural environment.

The selected initiatives align with BESF’s goals to safeguard biodiversity, promote sustainable livelihoods and foster renewable energy use on the island. The Fund maintains that environmental advancements rely upon robust partnerships among community-led organizations, the private sector, academia and the government.

This milestone was made possible through the TNC-led Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation transaction, which unlocked $50 million in savings for Barbados. A portion of those funds is being managed by the BESF to evaluate and fund projects that advance conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development in Barbados.

Waves break over a coral ringed coastline in Barbados as the sun rises over the water.
North Point, Barbados A sunrise view of Animal Flower Bay from North Point, the northern most point on Barbados. © Shane Gross
Fish swim through coral reefs in the Bahamas.
Coral Reef, Bahamas Fish swim through corals and sea fans in the waters of Eleuthera, The Bahamas. © Shane Gross
North Point, Barbados A sunrise view of Animal Flower Bay from North Point, the northern most point on Barbados. © Shane Gross
Coral Reef, Bahamas Fish swim through corals and sea fans in the waters of Eleuthera, The Bahamas. © Shane Gross

The Bahamas

The Bahamas Protect Areas Fund (BPAF) hosted its Awards Ceremony in February, where nine non-profit organizations were awarded grants ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 under the Marine Conservation Program.

This was the first round of competitive grants under the Marine Conservation Program established through The Bahamas Debt Conversion Project for Marine Conservation—a landmark initiative that is transforming sustainable financing for ocean protection in The Bahamas.

Grant recipients stand with a physically large check at the grant awarding ceremony.
Grants for Good Non-profit organizations were awarded grants through the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund. © Michelle Burrows

The Bahamas Debt Conversion Project, launched in November 2024, was developed in partnership with The Government of The Bahamas, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Inter-American Development Bank and other international partners. The transaction unlocked approximately $124 million in new funding for marine conservation over 15 years, with a minimum of $1.2 million allocated annually to support marine protection, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods, primarily through grants to non-governmental and community-based organizations.