Two women-led organisations in SVG awarded US$50,000 for climate justice

The Caribbean Feminist Climate Justice Movement (CFCJM), in partnership with the Global Fund for Women, has awarded grants totalling US$50,000 to two locally based grassroots organisations. They are, Mayreau Inc ,and Next Level Inc. These historic grants will finance grassroots initiatives in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), that address the critical intersection of climate action and gender justice. Each organisation received US$25,000 to support projects championing climate justice at the intersection of food security, economic justice and gender justice. This funding is part of CFCJM’s broader goal to facilitate accessible, sustainable and flexible funding for Caribbean feminist organisations which traditionally experience financing challenges and promote feminist climate justice, ensuring that vulnerable communities across the Caribbean are equipped to combat the impacts of climate change, CFCJM said in a release.

Speaking on the impact of this funding, President of We Are Mayreau Inc, Marion Isaacs said: “We Are Mayreau Inc has been pioneering movements in climate action with a specific focus on coral reef restoration and ecological farming as we roll out a ridge to reef approach to marine conservation and restoration within the Southern Grenadines.

This grant will allow us to work alongside female strategic consultants and other female experts as we invite their voice and guidance, in an effort to move us towards financial sustainability.”

Similarly, Sanya Compton of Next Level Inc shared: “Next Level Inc, established just under two years ago (June 24, 2022) has been dedicated to women’s upliftment and empowerment through women entrepreneurship. The funding received from the Global Women’s Fund will assist immensely with facilitating the work we have started on better understanding, supporting and documenting women environmental entrepreneurs and stewards. Among the key focus areas that our work will cover includes – supporting the engagement of women in resource management and capacity building for addressing vulnerabilities to environmental perturbations (e.g. climate change and variability, natural disasters).”

Twenty-two organisations from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas,Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago were successful in accessing grants based on for their innovative approaches to advancing climate resilience, gender equality, and social justice.

The women-led groups work on tackling the pressing challenges posed by climate change to marginalised groups, including women and gender diverse people, Indigenous and rural communities, and people of African and Indian descent.

Technical Director for Climate Justice at the Global Fund for Women (GFW), Ayesha Constable said: “The activists that are part of the movement, most of whom are women and girls, live in the communities besieged by climate change and best understand the needs of those most at risk. As women, historical and current drivers of gender inequality perpetuate the injustices they are subjected to -which are exacerbated by the climate crisis. This underscores the importance of their (women’s) leadership in responses which are rooted in justice, equity, and access for all; that challenges the systems that drive the climate crisis; and that engenders innovative approaches to knowledge building, adaptation, mitigation, and collective action.