The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has opened a new call for grant proposals focused on supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Caribbean blue economy, and is inviting eligible entities to join two upcoming virtual information sessions to walk applicants through the program’s details.
As part of the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme — the funding arm of the larger World Bank-backed Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project — this second call for proposals operates under the initiative’s Window 2, specifically targeting collaborative value chain groups operating across three Eastern Caribbean nations: Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The scheduled virtual information sessions are designed to give prospective applicants clear, actionable insight into the program’s objectives, eligibility criteria, application submission steps, and the tangible ways this grant funding can boost the growth and market competitiveness of participating blue economy value chain groups. The first session will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. local time on Friday, 12 June 2026, with registration available at https://bit.ly/49Io3NK. A second identical session will follow two weeks later, running during the same time slot on Friday, 26 June 2026; interested participants can register for this session at https://bit.ly/4uLlCT1. Eligible stakeholders are free to register for whichever session fits their schedule, and program organizers strongly encourage all interested groups to attend at one session to get guidance for building a competitive application.
The core mission of the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme is to expand and strengthen inclusive economic opportunities within the Caribbean blue economy. It specifically prioritizes MSMEs operating in three high-impact blue economy sectors: commercial fisheries, marine tourism, and marine waste management. For this current call, approved collaborative value chain groups can receive matching grants ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 USD.
To qualify as a value chain group under the program, entities must form a collaborative partnership of at least three registered MSMEs that work in sequence to add incremental value to a shared product or service. Common examples of eligible structures include a group comprising a small-scale fisher, a regional seafood processor, and a local restaurant partnering to streamline access to local premium seafood markets; a marine tour operator, a local accommodation provider, and a coastal transportation company collaborating to deliver enhanced visitor experiences; or a waste collection firm, a regional recycling facility, and a local manufacturer working together to upcycle marine plastic and other waste into new marketable goods.
By supporting these collaborative cross-MSME partnerships, the program targets four key outcomes: raising overall sector productivity, strengthening domestic and regional market connections, boosting climate and economic resilience for small enterprises, and creating long-term sustainable economic opportunities across the blue economy. To be eligible, all participating MSMEs must be legally registered entities operating within the borders of Grenada, St Lucia, or St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the full group must meet all additional eligibility requirements laid out in the official call for proposals documentation.
Application forms and full program documentation are available for download at https://bit.ly/4dh0ZX9. Completed applications must be submitted via email to [email protected], and prospective applicants can direct additional questions to the program’s support inbox at [email protected].
The entire UBEC initiative, which the matching grant program falls under, is financed by the World Bank and implemented on the ground by the OECS Commission. Its overarching goal is to drive sustainable economic growth, encourage innovation, and build long-term resilience across blue economy sectors in the three participating Eastern Caribbean nations.