Climate Trust Boosts Sister Island Grants
The Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund is offering bonus evaluation points to grant applications that focus on the Sister Islands and vulnerable populations. The initiative is designed to ensure climate resilience funding extends beyond Tortola to benefit communities across the entire territory. Organisations can access both project implementation grants and capacity-building funding through the trust.
The Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund is introducing a special scoring incentive to encourage community groups and organisations to design projects that directly benefit the Sister Islands and vulnerable populations across the territory. Under new guidelines announced by Chief Executive Officer Chamberlain Emmanuel, grant applicants can secure up to an additional ten points during evaluation.
The bonus points are specifically allocated for initiatives serving outer islands such as Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke, as well as projects tailored to support vulnerable groups, including low-income households, elderly residents, and persons with disabilities who are disproportionately impacted by climate shocks.
While acknowledging that a substantial number of applicant organisations are based on Tortola, the Trust is actively encouraging project developers to broaden their geographic scope. Emmanuel stressed the importance of ensuring that resilience initiatives provide meaningful, equitable support across all corners of the Virgin Islands, rather than concentrating resources solely on the main island.
The current funding call includes two distinct pathways to accommodate organisations at varying levels of operational readiness. The Community Resilience Grant is tailored for entities prepared to execute direct climate adaptation or mitigation projects. Meanwhile, the Capacity-Building Grant provides support for organisations needing to strengthen their internal governance, planning, or operational capabilities before undertaking larger ventures.
Depending on their readiness, some groups may qualify for both streams. To assist potential applicants through the process, the Trust is hosting virtual workshops and weekly question-and-answer sessions. In addition, dedicated in-person drop-in clinics will be conducted on Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada to ensure residents and groups on the Sister Islands receive direct guidance.
Before submitting an application, interested organisations must first enrol through the Trust's Partnership Alliance Registration on its official website. Completing this preliminary registration enables Trust staff to review an organisation's profile and recommend the most suitable funding opportunity.
Primary source: VINO