SLDB secures Green Climate Fund accreditation

Published on September 8, 2025

The Saint Lucia Development Bank is celebrating a critical milestone – its accreditation to the Green Climate Fund finalised in July. This means the SLDB can now directly access critical climate finance for national adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

Prior to that Saint Lucia would have to go through a multinational funding agency like the Caribbean Development Bank, FEMA or UNDP.

Folasade Lillian Ayonrinde, the Portfolio Management Specialist of the Green Climate Fund welcomed SLDB to the GCF family, noting the accreditation is testament to the bank’s commitment to transparency, accountability and climate ambition.

Mr. Cornelius Sidonie, the Managing Director of the SLDB noted that Saint Lucia’s application has been six years in the making. It was a rigorous process to determine the SLDB had the institutional capacity to handle funds from the GCF.

Nadia Hyacinth-Wells representing the National Designated Authority (NDA) to the GCF highlighted their role ‘try to attract or design pro grammes and projects that will access the GCF”.

Nadia Hyacinth-Wells representing the National Designated Authority (NDA) to the GCF highlighted their role ‘try to attract or design pro grammes and projects that will access the GCF”.

The NDA will also ensure that proposed projects align to national objectives and reflect grassroots needs and realities and that projects are initiated locally.

Paul Hilaire, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development suggested a focus on ‘social resilience’ in addition to traditional infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

He called for attention to climate impacts on agriculture, health, education, economic livelihoods and tourism.