Deadline: November 30, 2025
The EU-CDB Regional Food Security Programme aims to enhance food system resilience in the Caribbean, focusing on improving the livelihoods and food security of vulnerable populations.
The focus includes 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 European Union, as part of its global response to the food crisis, mobilized EUR 600 million to strengthen food security and develop sustainable and resilient food systems across African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Of this, EUR 36.5 million is allocated exclusively for the Caribbean under the EU-Caribbean Regional Food Security Programme, which runs from 2023 to 2027. The initiative is implemented through key regional partners including the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), International Trade Centre, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, and EU member state agencies such as FIIAPP and CPVA.
The general objective is to enhance sustainability and resilience of food systems in the Caribbean region while promoting food and nutrition security, with special attention to vulnerable groups. The programme’s Investment Project, led by the CDB, supports agri-MSMEs and producers by providing access to finance, fostering innovation, and improving distribution systems aimed at enhancing competitiveness and resilience.
Currently, a Call for Proposals is open under Window 3 of the programme, which will provide support to initiatives that improve logistics and enhance the efficiency of intra-regional agricultural trade and the maritime transport sector. Eligible applicants include agri-food aggregators, processors, distributors, customs and excise departments, port authorities, terminal and maritime operators within CARIFORUM member states.
Projects seeking funding under this call should align with one or more of the following focused areas: strengthening cold chain and agri-food logistics, enhancing port efficiency for agri-food trade, and modernizing maritime transport services for agri-food products. Funding is competitive, with grants up to €600,000 for individual country projects, and up to €1.3 million for regional projects covering more than two countries. A counterpart financing of up to 30% is expected from the projects.
Evaluation of proposals will consider relevance to national and regional priorities, project design quality, feasibility and risk mitigation strategies, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with the programme’s objectives.
For more information, visit Caribbean Development Bank.
