CDB approves US$50 million loan to support Guyana

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved US$50 million in financing for Guyana through its Second Environmental Sector Policy-Based Loan (PBL), aimed at strengthening the country’s climate resilience and natural resource management.

The funding, secured by the Government of Guyana, is part of a two-loan US$175 million programme, following an initial US$125 million disbursement in July 2025. The loan, financed through CDB’s Ordinary Capital Resources, will support the country’s pursuit of economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability, providing resources for climate-resilient infrastructure and strengthened environmental management systems.

L. O’Reilly Lewis, CDB’s Director of Projects, praised the approval, noting, “As Guyana experiences rapid economic expansion, this additional financing deepens our support for the country’s efforts to embed environmental sustainability into national policy and planning, ensuring that key reforms in biodiversity management, climate resilience, and water governance are adequately resourced.”

The loan supports reforms aligned with the Government of Guyana’s commitment to equitable climate finance, enhancing community climate resilience and livelihood opportunities. Key initiatives include improved biodiversity stewardship, modern monitoring systems, interagency coordination, restoration of carbon‑storing ecosystems, and upgraded early-warning systems for public health and climate-resilient water supply serving coastal communities.

The PBL advances Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and the country’s obligations under international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity. It also aligns with CDB’s Strategic Plan 2026–2035, which prioritizes protection of natural capital and increasing the capacity of member countries to adapt to climate-related shocks, while supporting the Bank’s Country Engagement Strategy for Guyana, focusing on poverty reduction and disaster resilience.

This second PBL reinforces Guyana’s efforts to integrate environmental sustainability into national development, ensuring that climate action and natural resource management remain central to the country’s long-term economic and social progress.