Gov't hosts sensitization activities to educate stakeholders on national climate change priorities.

Saint Lucia is set to benefit from a German Development Bank (KfW)-funded coastal protection project which targets Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean.

The project was officially approved in June 2014.

The project, which is funded at a total of 12.9 million Euros, aims to reduce the climate change-induced risks for the coastal population of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean primarily through ecosystem-based adaptation projects in four target countries, including Saint Lucia.

In order to ensure that relevant stakeholders are fully prepared to take advantage of this funding opportunity, stakeholder mobilization and sensitization activities will be held in Saint Lucia on June 25 and 26. These activities are being organized by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs) in collaboration with the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology.

The activities will include discussions with relevant public and private sector agencies and groups on climate change adaptation, Saint Lucia’s role in the project structure, and the various parameters of the project.

Discussions will also offer the 5C project team a better understanding of national priorities. This is important, as all projects to be funded must be aligned with national priorities and be endorsed by the Government of Saint Lucia.

Under this project, successful country proposals can access grants between US$300,000 to US$600,000 for projects consistent with the overall Coastal Protection Project, for durations of up to 30 months.