By Racquel Moses | Chief Executive Officer
The Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA) continues to advance its mission of mobilising climate finance and accelerating climate-smart development across the region. By working to strengthen the pipeline of investable solutions, improving access to climate data, and convening key stakeholders, CCSA is helping to unlock new opportunities for climate innovation and resilience throughout the Caribbean.
Building on the inaugural Climate Smart Summit in June, this quarter’s work brought together three priorities: preparing climate solutions for investment, improving access to climate data, and bringing regional stakeholders together around opportunities for collaboration.
CCSA’s work is grounded in three core approaches: Relationship Building and Advocacy, Matchmaking and Grant Making, and Regional Capacity Building. Together, these approaches help translate Caribbean climate ambition into practical action by supporting entrepreneurs, strengthening decision-making tools, and building the partnerships needed for climate-smart investment and resilience.
Preparing Climate Entrepreneurs Today for a Sustainable Caribbean Tomorrow
The Innovation Fund Caribbean continues to support Caribbean-led climate ventures on their path towards investment readiness. During the reporting period, five of the six businesses enrolled in Cohort 2 graduated from the programme. Cohort 3 also got underway, with two businesses enrolled. Building on this momentum, CCSA issued a call for applications to Cohort 4 of its Project Preparation Programme, scheduled to begin in 2027. The call invited operational businesses working in Ocean Solutions, Food & Agriculture, and Circularity to apply for consideration.
The planned five-to-six-month programme for Cohort 4 combines project design and development support, market strategy development, deal-room preparation, and peer learning, alongside a success grant, subject to successful completion of due diligence. Building on the preparation pathway established through earlier cohorts, it helps entrepreneurs strengthen their business models and prepare for their next stage of growth.
Across the two completed cohorts, the programme recorded enrolments from 15 businesses and a total of 10 businesses have graduated so far. All 10 graduates are eligible for success grants, subject to successful completion of due diligence. Together, Cohort 2’s graduation, Cohort 3’s launch, and recruitment for Cohort 4 demonstrate continued progress in building a pipeline of investment-ready Caribbean climate solutions.
In addition to the project preparation support provided through the Innovation Fund, CCSA launched the Beautiful Basics Hub during the quarter. This digital learning and resource platform helps Caribbean climate entrepreneurs move from initial concepts towards investment-ready enterprises, equipping them with practical tools to refine, structure, and scale their solutions. Its free core digital suite includes essential business tools, financial and business model templates, reading materials, webinars, and expert-led tutorials developed with regional partners. These resources support four stages of development: Idea, Startup & Early Stage, Scaling & Expansion, and Mature Project.
Connecting Regional Stakeholders to Climate-Driven Data
The Climate Smart Map serves as a regional platform for accessing climate information and exploring project opportunities across the Caribbean. At the time of review for this report, the map’s public directory lists 126 projects. Country-based exploration and filters allow users to compare initiatives across the region.
The platform provides access to datasets covering climate readiness, vulnerability, renewable energy ambition, and funding. These resources support more informed planning and help governments, investors, entrepreneurs, and development partners identify opportunities for collaboration and investment within the Caribbean climate ecosystem. The map is continuously updated to ensure the data is current and relevant.
Curating Climate Projects for Regional Investment
The inaugural Climate Smart Summit in June established a foundation for the next phase of CCSA’s project-matching work. As outlined in the last quarterly report, entrepreneurs who presented at the Investor Forum were introduced to prospective funders, while projects presented in the Climate Investment Marketplace were matched with prospective funding partners.
During the reporting period, CCSA participated in Climate Week NY, including hosting Caribbean CoLab in partnership with Future BARBADOS and the University of Miami. The matchmaking event focused on connecting Caribbean project owners with investors, funders, philanthropists, technical experts, and diaspora leaders. These connections offered opportunities to explore investment, partnerships, and collaboration. By raising the visibility of Caribbean climate solutions and connecting project owners with potential financing and technical support partners, the CoLab aligned with CCSA’s work to build the region’s pipeline of climate projects.
Advancing Climate Innovation and Resilience
Alongside these core enablers, climate-smart agriculture and regional energy collaboration remain priorities within CCSA’s broader approach to resilience.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Food security and climate-smart agriculture remain central to CCSA’s work, with food and agriculture ventures continuing to account for a substantial share of applicants and participants in the Innovation Fund’s Project Preparation Programme. Food and agriculture ventures represented approximately 60% of enrolments in Cohorts 1 and 2.
CCSA continues to help food and agriculture businesses strengthen their business models and move towards investment readiness through project preparation, access to climate data, regional networks, and connections with potential partners. The 2027 Project Preparation Programme Call for Projects is set to carry this support forward, with Food & Agriculture identified as one of its priority areas. For food and agriculture ventures, this offers a pathway to develop Caribbean-led solutions that strengthen food security and build a more resilient regional food system.
Convening Regional Energy Stakeholders
Regional dialogue on the energy transition remains an important part of CCSA’s collaborative approach, bringing stakeholders together to advance renewable energy and address the Caribbean’s energy priorities. Professional networks and inclusive leadership underpin this work. During the reporting period, CCSA participated in the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) 2026 in Panama City and co-hosted the Women in Renewable Energy (WIRE) luncheon with the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE). Under the theme “Sisterhood is the Grid: Powering Renewable Energy in the Caribbean,” more than 40 women from the region’s sustainable energy community came together to connect, exchange experiences, and explore opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and leadership. The programme included welcome remarks from CCSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Racquel Moses, and a keynote conversation with Nellie Gorbea, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust. The gathering reinforced the role of these connections in advancing the Caribbean’s energy transition.
Continuing to Advance a Climate-Smart Caribbean
The July–October reporting period carried earlier programme delivery forward into the next stage of project preparation and investment-focused collaboration. Across these initiatives, CCSA continues to create the conditions for Caribbean climate solutions to grow—supporting innovation, investment, and resilience across the region.
As this work evolves, CCSA remains committed to advancing practical, scalable solutions that contribute to a resilient, climate-smart Caribbean. Join us in supporting entrepreneurs, strengthening regional decision-making tools, and building the partnerships needed to turn climate ambition into action.
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