Jamaica Wins US$2.1 Million Green Climate Fund Grant to Strengthen Climate Finance Access

Jamaica will receive a US$2.1 million Readiness grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) after the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) submitted the successful proposal. The funding is intended to sharpen the country's ability to attract and manage international climate finance.

The island is the first CARICOM member to gain approval under the GCF's four-year Readiness strategy, which began in January 2024.

The award, named "Catalysing Climate Action by building Jamaica's NDA Capacity & Country Investment Platform," was prepared through the United Kingdom-backed Small Island Developing States Capacity and Resilience Programme (SIDAR). At its core sits a Climate Investment Platform meant to link sound domestic projects with appropriate funders. A Project Management Unit will also operate from within Jamaica's Nationally Designated Authority office.

News of the grant lands as the country continues rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa, which left damage and economic losses estimated at 56.7 per cent of Jamaica's 2024 gross domestic product.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda hailed the support, noting that cooperation with the GCF is "important to Jamaica's work in building Climate Resilience," especially amid recovery from Melissa.

CCCCC Executive Director Colin Young said the funds should enable Jamaica to draw down larger volumes of climate finance and better shield communities that bore the brunt of the hurricane.

Kristin Lang, the GCF's Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said the platform approach would help bring "government, the private sector, and development partners" onto the same page regarding investment priorities.

Centre officials added that the grant advances their wider role in helping CARICOM states obtain and put climate finance to work across the region.