The Caribbean at the forefront of loss and damage action: the Santiago Network convened SIDS and LDCs to accelerate access to technical assistance
Bridgetown, Barbados | 7 May 2026 – Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the Caribbean are stepping forward to drive action on climate-related loss and damage, following the conclusion of a three-day regional workshop convened by the Santiago Network, in collaboration with the Government of Barbados from 5–7 May 2026 at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The workshop brought together representatives from twelve Caribbean countries to advance demand-driven technical assistance aimed at averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse impacts of climate change. Participants engaged in focused discussions to translate national and regional priorities into technical assistance requests.
Organized in close collaboration with the Government of Barbados, CDB, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the workshop enabled countries to take stock of key loss and damage needs, initiate the development of technical assistance request concepts, and explore practical pathways for navigating access to tailored support through the Santiago Network.
“High-quality technical assistance starts with country ownership, translating national priorities into demand-driven requests,” said Carolina Fuentes Castellanos, Director of the Santiago Network Secretariat, during the high-level opening of the event. “The dialogue during this workshop helped refine needs into concrete and actionable requests, ensuring that solutions are relevant, trusted, and usable on the ground,” she added.
Remarks were also delivered during the opening session by the Acting Prime Minister of Barbados and Minister of Environment, National Beautification and Fisheries, the Honourable Santia J. O. Bradshaw; CDB Vice‑President (Operations), Dr. Isaac Solomon; Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, Ambassador Ilana V. Seid; and Co-Chair of the Santiago Network Advisory Board, Mr. Idy Niang.
The workshop also convened climate finance experts from the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and CDB to reflect on the role of the Santiago Network, currently the only dedicated global mechanism providing technical assistance for climate‑induced loss and damage, in supporting countries’ access to finance in the Caribbean region. Regional perspectives were further enriched by interventions from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC). A dedicated session on finance brought together experts from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Adaptation Fund, and CDB to explore how technical assistance can enable access to finance for loss and damage priorities. Dedicated writeshop sessions and bilateral clinics supported participants in moving from identified needs to well‑defined technical assistance request concepts.
Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw emphasized that platforms such as the Santiago Network must continue to deliver practical, accessible, and responsive technical assistance, noting that strengthening capacity, improving coordination, and sharing knowledge are essential to survival and sustainable development.
In her address, she expressed the hope that the workshop “provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences, identify solutions, and strengthen collaboration,” encouraging participants to focus on outcomes that translate into tangible benefits for countries and communities, guided by a shared commitment to protect people, safeguard development gains, and secure a more resilient future.
The CDB emphasized the critical role of regional institutions in partnering with countries and the broader loss and damage ecosystem to accelerate solutions and strengthen resilience, including by supporting countries to better articulate and package technical assistance needs and connect them with appropriate expertise.
CDB Vice‑President (Operations) Dr. Isaac Solomon noted: “The Caribbean Development Bank is pleased to partner with the Santiago Network on this workshop, providing our Borrowing Member States with a platform that connects global commitments with national priorities to address climate change. At a time of escalating risks, CDB plays a vital role in convening governments and partners, identifying urgent technical needs, and turning Santiago Network support into concrete reforms and bankable investments that safeguard lives and livelihoods.”
Building on the outcomes of the Bridgetown workshop, the Santiago Network Secretariat will continue working closely with country proponents and partners to refine priority technical assistance requests, support the development of high‑quality submissions, and strengthen coordination across the loss and damage ecosystem to promote complementarity and effective delivery.