KfW Development Bank Marine Litter Reduction Initiative

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Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-11 11:10

KfW Development Bank initiative financing marine litter reduction and circular economy infrastructure projects in developing countries through the Clean Oceans Initiative and related financing instruments.

Source: https://kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/About-us/News/News-Details_729920.html

Funding Details

Funder: KfW Development Bank (on behalf of the German Federal Government), channelled through Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF)
Funding Goal: Reduce marine litter in the Caribbean through circular economy promotion, improved waste management, and protection of biodiversity and marine ecosystems
Funding Amount: EUR 25.7 million total programme; at least 18 individual sub-projects expected to benefit approximately 20,000 people until 2028; individual sub-grant sizes not publicly specified
Deadline: Programme runs until 2028; individual sub-grant deadlines managed by Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (periodic)
How to Apply: KfW provides programme financing to the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), which manages sub-grant allocation to individual projects. Organisations in the Caribbean region would apply through CBF, not directly to KfW. Contact CBF via caribbeanbf.org or KfW via +49 69 74 31-42 60.
Target Region: Caribbean (up to 9 countries and territories)
Contact: KfW Development Bank, Palmengartenstrasse 5-9, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Phone: +49 69 7431-4260. Email: info@kfw-entwicklungsbank.de. Caribbean Biodiversity Fund: caribbeanbf.org
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 13:26

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Must operate in Caribbean region — not accessible to Africa or Asia-focused NGOs
Sub-grants managed by Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) not KfW directly

Project Scope

Scope: marine litter reduction, circular economy, waste management, clean-up, education

Constraints

Private sector participation expected in project design
International NGOs cannot apply directly to KfW for this programme

Summary

KfW Development Bank, on behalf of the German Federal Government, provided EUR 25.7 million in grant financing to the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) for a marine litter reduction initiative covering up to nine Caribbean countries and territories. The programme is part of the Clean Oceans Initiative (COI), a partnership of European development banks (KfW, AFD, EIB) committed to mobilising EUR 4 billion in combined ocean plastic pollution financing by 2025. The programme aims to reduce marine litter in the Caribbean through a whole-lifecycle approach, funding activities ranging from product design improvements and circular economy adoption, to improved waste collection and management systems, beach and ocean clean-ups, and public awareness and education campaigns. The initiative is expected to support at least 18 individual sub-projects and benefit approximately 20,000 people in the Caribbean by 2028. KfW acts as the capital provider through a grant agreement with CBF, which is the regional fund manager responsible for screening, selecting, and overseeing individual sub-projects. The private sector is explicitly mentioned as a key participant, with projects expected to involve private companies in circular economy solutions — repairing, reusing, and recycling — as well as in waste management system improvements. This initiative is one of several KfW ocean-related programmes under the Clean Oceans Initiative framework. KfW has committed to channelling significant financing through partner institutions in developing countries for marine environment and ocean pollution programming, primarily through intermediary fund structures rather than direct grants to NGOs. The programme is not designed for direct applications from international NGOs. Organisations wishing to participate would need to engage through the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund as the regional fund administrator, or through national government and private sector channels within eligible Caribbean countries.

Historical Context

Part of the Clean Oceans Initiative (COI) launched in 2018 by KfW, AFD, and EIB. KfW has channelled similar marine litter financing to other regions through bilateral development finance. The Caribbean programme was announced in 2024-2025 with implementation through 2028.

Why it was added

GIZ/bilateral waste capacity building

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