Leadership representing the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and a broad group of civil society actors including members of the conservation community and private sectors founded the SVGCF, in 2015, using existing institutional strengths and an innovative and multi-sectoral perspective. The World Bank, TNC and the CBF provided technical support for this process. The SVGCF was designed to accommodate a diverse range of funding that will catalyze and support the conservation and management of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ critical ecosystems.
While the primary source of funding currently is the CBF, the SVGCF’S mandate extends beyond the management of CBF funds, and the SVGCF will seek to generate additional sustainable funding to support other focal areas including sustainable livelihoods. Grants from the SVGCF can be used to support a wide range of both marine and terrestrial conservation-related activities including PA management and strengthening, habitat and species management, education and awareness linked to biodiversity and conservation management, local community engagement, and capacity management linked to conservation of the marine and terrestrial environment.
The SVGCF By-Laws state that it will be governed by a Board of Directors comprised of Founder Member Directors, Affiliated Directors, and Non-Affiliated Directors. Founder members are identified as a person from the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines National Trust; the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; and Sustainable Grenadines Inc. Affiliated Directors are from entities of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, represented by National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment. Non-Affiliated Directors are currently, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Hotels and Tourism Association; the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry and Commerce; and The Lions Club Kingstown SVG. The officers of the SVGCF are the President, Vice-president, the Secretary-Treasurer, and the Chief Executive Officer.
