More Support Is Coming for Caribbean Women Building Businesses

A new €700,000 fund is being created to help women-led businesses across the Caribbean become more resilient and better prepared for climate-related challenges.

For Caribbean women building businesses, resilience is part of the journey. Hurricanes, power interruptions, supply-chain disruptions and other climate-related challenges can quickly affect operations—and small businesses are often among the most vulnerable.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), through its SheTrades Caribbean Hub, and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have launched the WE-CLIMB Fund — SheTrades Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs’ Climate Impact Business Resilience Fund.

Backed by €700,000 in European Union funding, the initiative is designed to support women-led micro, small and medium-sized businesses in CDB Borrowing Member Countries.

What support is expected?

WE-CLIMB is expected to provide support including:

• Technical assistance and climate-risk assessments
• Business continuity and disaster-preparedness planning
• Grants for climate-resilient infrastructure and technology
• Climate adaptation research and development
• Knowledge and awareness initiatives

For a woman entrepreneur, climate resilience can be very practical: Can your business continue operating after a storm? What happens during an extended power outage? Are your records protected? How dependent are you on one supplier? What investment could help you recover faster?

What about women in the Virgin Islands?

This is one to watch.

The Virgin Islands is a CDB Borrowing Member Country, and CDB says WE-CLIMB will target women-led businesses within its Borrowing Member Countries.

However, the detailed eligibility criteria, grant amounts and application requirements have not yet been released.

The first call for applications is expected in December 2026.

That means now is a good time to start thinking about where your business is most vulnerable, what climate-related disruptions you have experienced, and what investments could make your operation stronger.

At Caribbean POSH, we believe empowering Caribbean women must go beyond inspiration. Women need greater access to information, capital, networks and opportunities that help them build sustainable businesses and long-term wealth.

We’ll be keeping an eye on WE-CLIMB as more information becomes available.

If you’re a Caribbean woman building a business, don’t just watch this opportunity—start getting ready for it.

Read the official Caribbean Development Bank announcement:

Learn More

Source: Caribbean Development Bank