Caribbean Pivot

With over a decade of work in environmental science and activism, Kelli Armstrong has been using her voice to call for preserving the natural beauty of her native Bahamas and combating the devastating effects of climate change.

Sparked by her love of the outdoors, especially the beautiful beaches of the Bahamas, Kelli has lent her passion, knowledge and expertise to numerous activism pursuits such as the Trifecta Group which she leads with her siblings and in memory of her late brother and the Anglican Climate Action Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

Kelli serves as a beacon of hope by uniting activists from across the Caribbean diaspora to share knowledge and strategies for collective action as the threat of climate change becomes ever clearer.

Read more at: https://caribbeanpivot.com/kelli-armstrong-championing-climate-justice-in-the-caribbean/

Some countries in the Caribbean region are considering Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) as they look for sustainable energy alternatives.

Recent meetings between the governments of Turks and Caicos Islands, Grenada, and Barbados have spurred interest in exploring OTEC as part of their renewable energy transition.

Read more here(LINK IN BIO): https://bit.ly/4b22yW9


(SOURCE: GLOBAL OTEC PR)

The IDB is working with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on FuSSE, an initiative that will offer open-source technology to central banks to facilitate payment systems and other settlement infrastructure.

FuSSE is the first project developed under the agreement signed between the IDB and the BIS in 2023 to promote regional financial inclusion.

The initiative has a three-pronged approach to financial inclusion in the region: technological innovation, assistance for the design and implementation of public policy, and institutional capacity building.

Read more here(LINK IN BIO): https://bit.ly/445OfOf

If you still haven't read the Pivot Book, it's still available for download on our website!

The book is a wonderful glimpse into what the Caribbean could look like by 2040, inspired by actual innovations from the Future makers of our region.
Download it at www.caribbeanpivot.com

The impacts of climate change on the Caribbean have become undeniable in the last decade, with many Caribbean countries experiencing a myriad of challenges. One study showed that global farming productivity had lowered by 21% due to climate change and that the figures were higher in the Caribbean, Africa and Latin America.

Climate-smart agriculture expert Steve Maximay, founder and managing director of Science-Based Initiatives has, for over 20 years, been at the forefront of initiatives in the Caribbean to enhance food production and nutrition security in the face of climate adversity.

Read more here: https://caribbeanpivot.com/maximising-agricultural-resilience-the-c-sac-tool-revolutionising-climate-smart-farming-in-the-caribbean/

Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic (Guysol) has partnered with Chinese company Sumec to construct solar parks in Guyana totaling 18 MW. Funding for the projects is sourced from the government’s Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, managed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Read more at https://www.pv-magazine-latam.com/2024/04/02/anuncian-en-guyana-proyectos-fotovoltaicos-por-un-total-de-18-mw/

Source (PV Magazine LATAM)

Do you know any Caribbean innovators who are doing amazing things? Tag them in the comments so we can feature them!

LASCO Distributors has completed the UWI/LASCO Solar Pilot Project, installing a 500 kW PV+ system at its facility in Spanish Town, St Catherine, and a 10 kW Solar Hybrid system at the Central Village Multi-Purpose Centre.
Developed with USAID and JERA, this project is one of Jamaica’s largest and will serve as a research and training site for UWI.

Read more at https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/lasco-distributors-save-60k-monthly-successful-solar-pilot

Sources: (Jamaica Loop News)

World Creativity & Innovation Day is the International Day of Observance that celebrates those who use creativity to advance the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

This year on , the world is invited to embrace the idea that innovation is essential for harnessing the economic potential of nations.

By uniting the wisdom of the past with the innovation of today we can create meaningful change.

To reinforce the Source of Innovation Alliance's commitment to strengthen the private sector supply in the sector, IDB Lab, in coordination with the IDB Water and Sanitation Division, announces a new edition of the AquaCerta Challenge. This time the opportunity is open to projects to be implemented in any of the 26 IDB borrowing member countries.

The AquaCerta Challenge is aimed at strengthening water systems and innovation in our region. This initiative is focused on ensuring access to safe drinking water and on increasing the resilience of water systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The call will be open from March 22nd to May 31st, 2024.

Learn more here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/two-innovative-solutions-win-challenge-tackle-water-and-sanitation-needs-latin-america

Jamaica's first agrivoltaic farm was launched by East West Power Korea during a significant groundbreaking ceremony held at the AC Marriott Hotel in New Kingston.

Agrivoltaic farms optimize land utilization by integrating crop cultivation with solar energy generation. The solar panels are strategically positioned above the growing crops to ensure they receive ample sunlight while harnessing solar power simultaneously.

Read more here: https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/first-agrivoltaic-farm-launched-jamaica-east-west-power-korea
(Source: Loop News Jamaica)

A new solar and battery project in Antigua and Barbuda, funded by the UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund, is now operational. The design includes solar panels and batteries that can withstand hurricanes and supply all daytime energy needs.

Read more: http://www.apua.ag/uae-caribbean-renewable-energy-fund-celebrates-inauguration-of-hurricane-resistant-power-plant-on-antigua-and-barbuda/

For many of us, the ocean remains distant and inaccessible. Bajan Digital Creations Inc., a Barbados-based tech company headed by Antonio Hollingsworth and co-founder, Stacy Phillips, is on a mission to change that.

Through their innovative approach, Hollingsworth and Phillips aim to connect people with the underwater world and empower them to make climate-resilient decisions for the future of our reefs.

Read more here: https://caribbeanpivot.com/getting-in-touch-with-the-underwater-world-bajan-digital-creations-inc/

The IDB Group has launched the ONE Caribbean Regional Program, a comprehensive framework designed to support enhancing living standards across the Caribbean.

To mark the occasion, a signing ceremony took place at the IDB Group 2024 Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

IDB governors for the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago in a joint statement, the governors said, "We recognize that the best way forward is through collective actions that boost regional knowledge, improve resilience, and unlock financial resources to support the Caribbean's sustainable development."

Read more here: IADB PR: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-group-caribbean-governors-endorse-regional-program-one-caribbean

IDB Lab, the innovation and venture laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), will invest reimbursable and non-reimbursable financing in the startup GoElectricTT to launch a new business model that aims to catalyze the adoption of electric vehicles in Trinidad and Tobago.

Read more here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-lab-invests-electric-vehicles-trinidad-and-tobago-reduce-emissions

Unlocking creativity means finding beauty in the unexpected, weaving together threads that seem worlds apart. Embrace the power to connect the seemingly unconnected. 🌟

What an interesting read from Entrepreneur.Com.
Here are some tips on how you can configure your workplace to encourage innovative thinking amongst your employees.
Read more here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/9-ways-your-company-can-encourage-innovation/318584
Photo: Getty Images
Via Entrepreneur

The IDB is supporting Barbados’ sustainable development goals with US$100 million loan.
Read more here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/barbados-complete-sustainable-development-policy-program-idb-support

Barbadian Entrepreneur, Jared Spencer is breaking new ground to ensure that authenticity and diversity thrive. Spencer, the founder of the vegan snack company, RIDDIM Snacks, uses his products to reshape the narrative surrounding Caribbean culture in the United Kingdom.

Read more of his compelling story here:
https://caribbeanpivot.com/riddim-snacks-a-caribbean-culinary-revolution/

OPPORTUNITY
🌟 Are you building a startup for climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience? Accelerate your growth with Halcyon climate fellowship programs:

Latin America & Caribbean Climate Fellowship - open to founders in Latin America & the Caribbean building solutions to climate challenges. This fellowship is run with support from Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Africa Climate Fellowship - open to founders in Sub-Saharan Africa building solutions to climate challenges. This fellowship is run with support from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Office of Global Partnerships at the U.S. State Department.

Selected ventures receive training in product-market fit, investment readiness, leadership, and other program-specific benefits. Apply by March 22, 2024.

Apply: https://halcyon.submittable.com/submit (LINK IN BIO)

IDB Invest and Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) have signed a US$100 million financing deal aimed at bolstering JPS’ capital investment program. This funding will aid in modernizing Jamaica’s electricity grid and enhancing electricity access across the country. CIBC Caribbean joined as a co-arranger, mobilizing an additional US$50 million for the initiative.

Read more here: https://idbinvest.org/en/news-media/idb-invest-partners-jps-support-jamaicas-green-energy-transformation

INNOVATION ICON

Dr. Manley Elisha West (17 March 1929 – 24 April 2012) was a Jamaican pharmacologist who studied the ma*****na plant. He pioneered its use for the treatment of glaucoma.

Dr. Manley was the first Jamaican to be appointed as professor in the University of the West Indies Department of Pharmacology in 1981. He would also serve as Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

In 1985 he joined the University of Cambridge as a British Council Fellow, working with Alan Cuthbert on how drugs cross the membrane of the eye. He pioneered the use of ma*****na as a treatment for Glaucoma, and was co-inventor of canasol with Albert Lockhart. Canasol is still one of the most popular drugs for treating glaucoma.