Call for Proposals launched under the Sustainable Small Grants Programme supporting Caribbean communities to tackle plastic pollution through locally driven circular economy solutions

Community-based organisations and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across five Eastern Caribbean countries invited to lead innovative, community-driven circular economy solutions under the “Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap” initiative

_San José, Costa Rica_ , 30 April 2026 _._ IUCN] — A new funding opportunity to support community-driven action on plastic pollution has been launched under the “Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap” initiative. The Sustainable Small Grants Programme (SSGP) will provide targeted financial and technical support to organisations working to reduce plastic waste and advance circular economy solutions across the Eastern Caribbean.

Open to participants in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the programme is designed to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), community-based organizations (CBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), cooperatives, associations, schools, and informal groups with demonstrated community engagement to implement practical, scalable interventions that reduce plastic leakage into the environment.

The initiative is implemented by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (ORMACC), with support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

Through a total programme envelope of EUR 400,000, the SSGP will fund locally led projects that address plastic waste through upstream prevention and midstream circularity approaches. Each participating country is allocated up to EUR 80,000, with individual grants ranging from EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000.

The programme forms part of a broader regional effort to reduce plastic pollution at its source by supporting improvements in waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and sustainable material alternatives.

Projects funded under the SSGP will be expected to demonstrate measurable environmental and socio-economic impact, contributing to national priorities and global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Applications are now open. Interested organisations are encouraged to review the full guidelines and submit proposals by 11:59 PM (AST) on 31st May 2026. More information on the call is available here: