Guyana among 13 Caribbean nations to benefit from IFC’s US$15M investment fund

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced an investment of up to US$15 million in the Caribbean Community Resilience Fund (CCRF) Debt Sub-Fund, a regional financing initiative aimed at supporting business growth, job creation and climate resilience across the Caribbean.
The investment, announced on Friday, marks IFC’s first debt fund transaction in the Caribbean. The fund is managed by Sygnus and was established in partnership with the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF).
According to the IFC, the financing is expected to expand access to capital for medium-sized enterprises while supporting resilience and sustainability projects, including investments in critical infrastructure.
Funding through the CCRF Debt Sub-Fund will be available in 13 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The fund has been designed to mobilise long-term capital for climate resilience and sustainable development, addressing financing gaps that have historically limited private sector growth in the region.
Investments will focus on seven sectors identified as priorities for regional development: energy, water, agriculture, housing, transportation, financial services, and information and communications technology.
Sygnus co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Berisford Grey said the investment represents a significant step for the CCRF platform and the wider Caribbean.
“Through the CCRF Debt Sub-Fund, we are expanding access to long-term financing for medium-sized enterprises while supporting investments that strengthen critical sectors, unlock economic opportunity and contribute to job creation across Caribbean economies,” Grey stated.
The announcement comes as many Caribbean countries continue to face challenges in accessing long-term financing. According to the IFC, domestic credit in the region’s small states stands at 32.8 per cent of gross domestic product, while the estimated financing gap exceeds US$22 billion.
The CCRF Debt Sub-Fund was created to help address this shortfall by providing flexible financing solutions for businesses and development projects.
IFC Division Director for the Andean Countries and the Caribbean, Elizabeth Martinez de Marcano, said the investment demonstrates the role private capital can play in supporting economic development.
“Innovative vehicles like the CCRF Debt Sub-Fund deliver customised financing solutions that enable medium-sized enterprises to operate effectively, expand, and generate employment,” she said.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen the region’s ability to withstand climate-related challenges. The Caribbean remains one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to hurricanes and other natural disasters, which can significantly impact economic development and infrastructure.
The IFC noted that the effects of Hurricane Melissa in 2025 underscored the need for increased investment in resilient infrastructure and sustainable development projects to help countries and businesses better prepare for future shocks.