The Caribbean faces growing challenges in waste management due to population growth, tourism, rising imports, and changing consumption patterns. Per capita waste generation in the English-speaking Caribbean is above the global average, yet regional recycling rates remain as low as four percent. Recycling is rarely economically viable because of limited economies of scale, and most waste ends up in landfills. The lack of waste disposal fees further discourages investments in sustainable, climate-sensitive systems.

Organic waste contributes to climate change through methane emissions, while plastics harm biodiversity and threaten the tourism industry, which is a key economic driver in the region. Although awareness of circular economy opportunities is increasing, policy incentives, financing options, technical expertise, and regional collaboration remain insufficient. Gender aspects are also underrepresented, despite the disproportionate exposure of women in informal waste roles.

To address these challenges, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) finances the project "Supporting the framework conditions for a climate-sensitive circular economy in the Caribbean", implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The project runs from 2025 to 2028 in Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The project strengthens institutional and operational capacities of state and non-state actors, e. g. national solid waste management authorities, to plan and implement circular economy approaches. It promotes regional cooperation, knowledge transfer, gender equality, and private sector engagement, while supporting capacity development and digital awareness campaigns.

By 2027, the project seeks to achieve:
- at least 40 companies in agriculture and tourism sectors implementing circular economy measures, including 9 led by women
- 6 countries developing and sharing circular economy approaches
- 200 professionals (incl. 50 women) trained and better equipped for circular economy implementation
- 6 national waste authorities adopting incentive systems for circular practices
- 500 managers informed and engaged through outreach activities and 3 digital campaigns reaching 50,000 views.

The project will promote climate-sensitive circular economy potential as a strategy to reduce waste, mitigate climate change and strengthen sustainable and inclusive economic development in the Caribbean.

LOT-0001
81322091-Technical advisory and capacity building services for a climate-sensitive circular economy in the Caribbean.
2. Tasks and services
Overall objective of the consultancy
The consultancy strengthens the enabling environment for circular economy in the Caribbean by building institutional and technical capacity, guiding strategy and governance development, facilitating stakeholder collaboration and supporting the implementation of national roadmaps. It ensures public and private circular economy stakeholders are equipped to adopt climate-sensitive circular practices. The consultancy will provide high-quality advisory and training services, contributing primarily to Outputs 2, 3, and 4 of the project.
Expected outcomes
- Improved enabling conditions through institutional and technical capacity development at national and regional levels.
- Strengthened technical, operational and managerial skills of public officials for planning, implementation and monitoring of circular economy measures.
- Awareness and behavioural change among decision-makers, businesses, communities and end-consumers.
- Enhanced regional learning, replication and exchange of best practices across Caribbean countries.

Work Packages and tasks to be delivered
Work Package 1: Capacity building for national actors
The consultancy will strengthen the capacities of national stakeholders to design and implement circular economy approaches. This includes preparing a comprehensive situational analysis and a scoping report that identifies five strategic approaches across Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The experts will provide technical input for an awareness programme targeting policymakers, highlighting the importance of circular and climate-sensitive waste management solutions. In addition, five national two-day workshops will be designed and delivered, one in each country, bringing together at least 100 participants, of whom at least 30 will be women. These workshops will initiate the drafting of country-specific roadmaps for selected strategic approaches. The consultancy will further support national stakeholders in reviewing and finalizing the five roadmaps, ensuring that they address governance, financing, risk management, monitoring and sustainability.

Work Package 2: Advisory and capacity building for national waste management authorities
Through this work package, institutional, technical, strategic and operational capacities of national waste authorities are strengthened. The consultancy will design and implement six three-day workshops, one in each project country, to support the development of concepts and incentive systems for a climate-sensitive circular economy. Each workshop will include seven structured sessions covering awareness-raising, capacity and competence development, technical implementation, financial feasibility, incentive design, monitoring and sustainability. Participation will include at least 40 staff members from national waste authorities, of which a minimum of 12 will be women. To promote regional peer learning, the consultancy will also organize two online sequential exchange sessions that facilitate the sharing of experiences and lessons learned among the six countries. Building on these efforts, the consultants will provide technical advice to finalize six national roadmaps and establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure effective and adaptive implementation.

Work Package 3: Dissemination and communication support
The consultancy will actively contribute to raising awareness and visibility of circular economy approaches in the Caribbean. Experts will participate as speakers or panellists in four regional or international events to present project experiences, lessons learned and recommendations. They will also contribute to the planning of four national, regional, or international conferences by proposing relevant topics, identifying suitable speakers and ensuring technical relevance of the programmes. In addition, the consultancy will provide expert input for three cross-country digital awareness campaigns targeting businesses and households. These campaigns will promote action options for climate-sensitive circular economy and the consultants ensure that materials are technically accurate, contextually adapted, and aligned with the project"s objectives and regional sector context.

Deliverables and milestones
- Scoping report
- Awareness workshop content
- Five national workshops and draft roadmaps
- Finalized roadmaps
- Six 3-day waste authority workshops with draft circular economy concepts
- Two regional sequential online sessions
- Finalized roadmaps and monitoring mechanism
- Participation in 4 events and support to 4 conferences
- Reviewed and validated awareness campaign materials