Caribbean Countries to Participate in New IDB Lab Initiative to Protect Environment From Hazardous Waste
WASHINGTON, DC – IDB Lab, The Innovation Laboratory Of The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Has Launched An Initiative Find Solutions That Contribute To The Sustainable Management Of Chemical Substances And Hazardous Waste In 10 Caribbean Countries.
IDB Lab Said “Bluetech For Waste” Is Being Undertaken In Collaboration With The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Through Its Global ISLANDS Programme And Seeks To Protect Human Health And The Environment And Address The Region’s Climate Vulnerabilities.
The 10 Caribbean Under Consideration Are Antigua And Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts And Nevis, St. Lucia, Suriname And Trinidad And Tobago.
IDB Lab Said That In Partnership With GEF, It Launched The Bluetech For Waste Challenge In 2022, With Which, In October Of That Year, Six Proposals Were Selected For Project Design.
It Said Following The Successful Completion Of The Challenge, IDB Lab And GEF Are Now Opening Three Rounds Of Proposal Submissions To Find New Solutions In An Initiative That Will Include New Financing To Test Innovations And Technological Solutions In The Initial Phase.
IDB Lab Seeks Startups, Small And Medium-Sized Businesses, Non Government Organisations, Corporations And Other Private Sector Organizations That Offer Innovative Solutions To Address The Challenge Posed By Waste Lubricants, Tyres, Electrical And Electronic Items, Used And End-Of-Life Vehicles, As Well As Industrial, Organic And Municipal Waste, Medical, Pesticides And Plastics That May Contain Dangerous Substances.
The IDB Lab Said Solutions Must Be Scalable, Sustainable And Promote Poor And Vulnerable Populations’ Economic And Social Inclusion.
The Projects Resulting From The Application Process Will Be Implemented In The 10 Caribbean Countries, Said IDB Lab, Adding That Initiatives From Any Of These Countries Can Be Submitted, As Well As Organizations From Any Of The Other 48 IDB Member Countries If They Do So Jointly With An Organization Registered And Located In One Of The Ten Countries Indicated.
The Selected Proposals Will Be Able To Receive Financing To Execute Their Projects, Which Will Be Provided By IDB Lab And The GEF.
“Additionally, Selected Organizations Will Be Included In The IDB Lab Network Of Global Innovators To Exchange Knowledge, Experiences, Best Practices, And Networking At Events Organized By The IDB Group And Its Partners,” Said IDB Lab, Adding That Proposals Will Be Considered On A First-Come, First-Serve Basis And Rounds May Be Subject To Change And/Or Early Termination.
