CAF Commits $2.5 Billion to Strengthen Latin America and Caribbean Blue Economy by 2030

Key Impact Points:

• $2.5 billion pledged through 2030 to boost sustainable ocean-based economic activities, doubling CAF’s 2022 Lisbon commitment.
• New blue economy strategy launched, anchored in four pillars: finance, diplomacy, education, and local value generation.
• 17 credit and 18 technical operations already underway, benefiting 16 countries and positioning CAF as a global leader in blue finance

CAF Doubles Ocean Commitment to Lead Blue Finance in the Region

CAF – the development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – has announced a bold new investment of $2.5 billion through 2030 to advance a sustainable blue economy and preserve ocean ecosystems in the region. The announcement came during the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) in Monaco and positions CAF as the leading multilateral organization in blue finance.

“This important financial commitment not only reflects CAF’s effort to protect the region’s marine ecosystems, but also our ambition to be the main catalyst for a sustainable and regenerative blue economy in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Sergio Diaz-Granados, CAF’s executive president.

Strategic Oceans Framework Anchored in Four Pillars

CAF’s new sustainable blue economy strategy, also presented at BEFF and the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), introduces a comprehensive framework that integrates ocean conservation with economic development. The strategy is built on four pillars:

1. Finance & Instruments: Leveraging blue bonds, biodiversity credits, and debt-for-nature swaps to unlock capital.
2. Blue Diplomacy: Promoting regional cooperation and defining the ocean as a global common good.
3. Education & Capacity Building: Boosting awareness and skills among key stakeholders.
4. Local Value Creation: Ensuring economic returns stay in coastal communities.

Investment Areas to Power Ocean-Based Development

The $2.5 billion commitment will support:

• Marine-coastal resource management for conservation and productivity
• Renewable ocean energy development to lower the maritime sector’s carbon footprint
• Responsible tourism and recreation that protects fragile ecosystems
• Local economic upliftment through inclusive development models
• Innovation and marine technology, including biotech and offshore infrastructure
• Strengthening governance with updated legal and institutional frameworks

Past Achievements and Next Steps

CAF has already exceeded its 2022–2025 target of mobilizing $1.25 billion, having deployed $1.32 billion across 35 projects in 16 countries. These included 17 credit operations and 18 technical cooperations focused on ocean conservation and coastal development.

In partnership with the World Economic Forum and the World Resources Institute, CAF will also release a special report outlining the current state of the blue economy in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting areas ripe for further investment.

A Blueprint for Prosperity and Protection

“We thus reaffirm our commitment to a future where prosperity and sustainability protect the oceans, which are essential for the future of the region and the planet,” said Diaz-Granados.