CANARI has launched the final small-grant call under the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) for the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. This round funds civil society organizations working to protect Key Biodiversity Areas, reduce environmental threats, and strengthen conservation capacity across the region. Grants range from USD 5,000–50,000 for projects running up to 12 months between April 2026 and March 2027.

Final Call for Small Grants: CANARI & CEPF Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot

Overview

The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), acting as the Regional Implementation Team for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), has opened its eleventh and final call for small-grant Letters of Inquiry (LOIs). This call supports civil society organizations dedicated to biodiversity conservation, environmental resilience, and community-based stewardship in the Caribbean Islands.

The program focuses on site-level, corridor-level, and multi-country conservation actions that strengthen the region’s long-term ecological health.

Why This Funding Opportunity Matters

This final funding phase is designed to:

• Strengthen civil society’s leadership in biodiversity protection

• Reduce critical threats to globally important ecosystems

• Enhance conservation network participation and collaboration

• Support community-driven environmental solutions

• Expand the regional portfolio of high-impact conservation projects

The Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot is one of the most threatened ecosystems globally. This funding helps local actors turn conservation plans into measurable action.

Funding Details

• Total funding available: USD 200,000

• Grant size: USD 5,000–50,000 per project

• Project duration: Up to 12 months

• Project timeframe:

  • Earliest start: 1 April 2026

  • Latest end: 30 March 2027

• Project location: Must fall within eligible areas of the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot

• Strategic alignment: Projects must address one or more CEPF strategic directions:

  1. Improve protection and management of priority Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)

  2. Increase landscape connectivity and climate resilience

  3. Strengthen enabling conditions for conservation

  4. Build civil society capacity

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be civil society organizations operating within the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. These include:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

• Community-based organizations (CBOs)

• Universities and research groups

• Private enterprises with conservation impact

Additional requirements:

• Individuals may assist with drafting but cannot apply independently.

• Government agencies are not eligible.

• Government-owned entities may apply only if they:

  • Have independent legal status

  • Can legally receive private funding

  • Cannot claim sovereign immunity

• Collaborative, multi-partner projects are encouraged, but one lead applicant must submit the proposal.

What Types of Projects Are Supported?

Projects should demonstrate clear conservation value and may include:

• Reducing immediate threats to biodiversity (e.g., habitat loss, pollution, invasive species)

• Strengthening organizational capacity (governance, financial management, technical skills)

• Improving local engagement in conservation networks and alliances

• Delivering measurable improvements in Key Biodiversity Areas

• Expanding community-based resource management

• Building resilience through landscape-level interventions

Projects that complement existing CEPF-supported initiatives are particularly encouraged.

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Review eligibility criteria to confirm your organization and project area qualify.

2. Align your project with one or more of the four CEPF strategic directions.

3. Prepare a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) including:

   • Executive summary of the project

   • Applicant and organization details

   • Conservation motivation and goals

   • State of the art and project approach

   • Expected biodiversity impact

   • Organizational capacity and partnerships

   • Community engagement plans

   • Intellectual property or commercialization strategy (if applicable)

4. Keep the LOI under six pages as required.

5. Submit through CANARI’s designated portal or email (as specified in the official call).

6. Await notification regarding shortlisting or request for a full proposal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting an LOI longer than six pages

• Proposing activities outside eligible geographic areas

• Misalignment with the four strategic directions

• Insufficient evidence of organizational capacity

• Weak community or stakeholder involvement

• Projects with unclear or immeasurable biodiversity outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot?

It is a globally recognized region of exceptional species diversity and high levels of threat, making it a priority area for conservation investments.

2. What is considered a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA)?

KBAs are sites of global importance to the persistence of biodiversity, identified using internationally standardized criteria.

3. Can organizations submit multiple LOIs?

Yes, but each proposal must be distinct. Funding decisions consider overall regional balance.

4. Are capacity-building-only projects eligible?

Yes. Organizational strengthening is explicitly encouraged as long as it contributes to conservation outcomes.

5. Can a government ministry collaborate on a project?

They may collaborate, but they cannot be the applicant or receive CEPF funds directly.

6. Are multi-country projects allowed?

Yes, as long as they advance conservation goals within the hotspot and match CEPF’s strategic directions.

7. What is the expected level of reporting?

Grantees must provide financial and technical progress reports, demonstrating measurable impact within the project duration.

Conclusion

This final CANARI–CEPF small-grant call offers a critical opportunity for Caribbean civil society organizations to drive meaningful biodiversity conservation. By focusing on Key Biodiversity Areas, ecosystem resilience, and community-led action, applicants can help shape a more sustainable and ecologically secure future for the Caribbean Islands. Applicants are encouraged to align proposals with regional priorities and demonstrate clear, measurable conservation impact.