Congratulations
Winners and Finalists

At this year’s Island Finance Forum, we dedicated a special session to celebrate and announce the winners and finalists of the twelve unique categories of the first annual Island Innovation Awards. The Island Innovation Awards, run in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, recognizes individuals, organizations and projects driving positive change for remote and island communities globally. By sharing the winners and finalists of each category, Island Innovation hopes to inspire positive change and expand the global knowledge-sharing platform for island communities everywhere.

This year has been an amazing showcase of island talent from all across the world, and Island Innovation would like to sincerely thank all those who applied and nominated someone else to the awards and to those who attended the awards ceremony. The support of our community, award partner, and panel of judges, have helped to make this inaugural Island Innovation Awards a huge success that we are very proud of.

The official awards ceremony, which took place on the final day of the Island Finance Forum, was presented by Island Innovation CEO James Ellsmoor, and featured a keynote address from former President of the United States, Bill Clinton as well as a presentation by Rachel Moriarty, Head of Prize Design and Impact for The Earthshot Prize. As an official nominating organization, Island Innovation was invited to nominate several applicants from the Island Innovation Awards to this year’s Earthshot Prize.

The winners and finalists of the Island Innovation Awards were selected and announced during the live ceremony by members of an esteemed panel of judges, and winners across each category had the opportunity to address a global audience of island stakeholders and share more about their projects and innovations.

Visibility

Recognition

Feedback

Opportunities

Inspire Others

Meet the Winners and Finalists

Below is the list of the winners and finalists of this year’s Island Innovation Awards. Make sure to check out their projects and see how islanders are leading the charge in solving some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Future Island Leader Award

Ronelle King

Founder and Director, Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence

Ronelle King is from Barbados, and is the Founder and Director of Life in Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence. This is a grassroots organization which seeks to eliminate the region's pervasive rape culture and eradicate violence against women and girls in the Caribbean. Its vision is for all women and girls to live lives in public, private and digital spaces free from all forms of violence.

Ronelle King

Job Title: Founder and Director

Organization: Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence (lifeinleggings.org)

Initiative: Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence

Location: Barbados

Mark Jacinto

Curator, Online SDG Youth Action Forum

Mark Jacinto is from Luzon island in the Philippines, and is the Founder of the Online SDG Youth Action Forum, which is an online community organization that aims to solidify commitment and simplify discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals to the youth through sharing skills, building capacities, posting opportunities, linking collaborations, and forming alliances towards a more strengthened and sustainable self and community mobilization and development. This includes a Facebook group with over 25 and a half thousand members.

Mark Jacinto

Job Title: Curator

Organization: Online SDG Youth Action Forum (facebook.com/groups/OnlineSDGYouthActionForum)

Initiative: Online SDG Youth Action Forum

Location: Luzon island, Philippines

Sidney Jules

Manager, RMI

Sidney Jules is from Dominica, and is the Manager for RMI’s Global South program, supporting the team’s efforts to complete integrated resource plans and develop renewable energy projects in islands. This has included leading the Dominica Schools Resilient Microgrid initiative, which is creating significant local impact by paving the way to community and climate resilience. Sidney leads efforts on his home island of Dominica and across the Caribbean to transform energy systems to meet local priorities using clean energy options.

Sidney Jules

Job Title: Manager

Organization: RMI (https://rmi.org/people/sidney-jules/)

Initiative: Dominica Schools Resilient Microgrids

Location: Dominica

Island Innovator Award

Radhames Carela

Master Ceramicist, Wine To Water Dominican Republic

Radhames Carela, is from the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola. Radhames is the Master Ceramicist at Wine To Water Dominican Republic. 15 years ago he invented the Ceramic Water Filter, an amazing technology that is saving lives in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and East Africa. The filter not only improves health by filtering out agents causing water-borne diseases, but also saves a family money, and positively impacts the environment. The Ceramic Filter Factory has delivered more than 100,000 filters around the Dominican Republic and Haiti, impacting hundreds of thousands of people. Rhadames’s filters are not only implemented in individual homes, but also schools, and healthcare facilities.

Radhames Carela

Job Title: Master Ceramicist

Organization: Wine To Water Dominican Republic (winetowater.org/our-work-dr)

Initiative: Ceramic Water Filter

Location: Dominican Republic

Colin Philp

Former manager of Leleuvia Island Resort, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Duavata Sustainable Tourism Collective, Co-Founder of the Sustainable Sea Transport Initiative

Colin Philip sadly passed away near the end of 2021. Colin lived on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji, and worked as the manager at Leleuvia Island Resort. He also supported the establishment of several organisations in Fiji that are at the forefront of environmental and sustainable oceans advocacy and practice – including the Uto ni Yalo Trust, the Duavata Sustainable Tourism Collective, the Sustainable Sea Transport Initiative and the Suva Harbour Foundation. Colin embodied Pacific values of environmental stewardship, and played a leading role in marrying modern and traditional sailing practice in Fiji as part of the revival of traditional voyaging. He mentored and expanded access through youth programmes, and used the film and tourism sectors to further the cause. Colin guided and mentored hundreds if not thousands of Pacific Islanders – in Fiji, and throughout the region, and he leaves a hugely impactful legacy behind. Further details of his achievements and the many lives that he touched were shared on his online memorial page here: https://padlet.com/sbale1/colinphilpmemorial

Colin Philp

(Passed away in 2021)

Job Title: Former manager of Leleuvia Island Resort (leleuvia.com/en/), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Duavata Sustainable Tourism Collective (https://www.duavatasustainabletourism.org/), Co-Founder of the Sustainable Sea Transport Initiative

Initiative: Reviving environmental stewardship in Fiji through traditional sailing

Location: Fiji

Crystal Díaz

Co-Founder, Partner and Co-CEO, PRoduce

Crystal Diaz is from Puerto Rico and is the Co-Founder, Co-CEO and Chief Marketing Officer of PRoduce, the first digital marketplace in Puerto Rico that connects local producers with consumers in a convenient way, making it easier to support locally produced food businesses. During the past three years, Crystal and the PRoduce team have been substantially increasing their offering and nowadays they buy from over 600 local small and medium producers and sell over 1,500 items, which they are increasing every week. They have also connected with over 50,000 consumers that downloaded the app or created an account who are interested in consuming locally sourced goods.

Crystal Díaz

Job Title: Co-Founder, Partner and Co-CEO

Organization: PRoduce (puertoricoproduce.com/)

Initiative: PRoduce

Location: Puerto Rico

Women SDG Leadership Award

Gina Ebanks-Petrie

Director, Department of Environment, Cayman Islands Government

Gina Ebanks-Petrie is from the Cayman Islands, and is the Director at the Cayman Islands Government Department of Environment. In her role, Gina has been the key driver behind the protection of Life Under Water (SDG 14) and Life On Land (SDG 15). In the first two years of her career, Gina helped establish the Cayman Islands’ first marine parks, which protected 14% of Caymans coastal zone. In 2011, 25 years later and as Director of the Department of Environment, she started the process of expanding the marine parks ,. Now, 48% of Cayman’s coastal waters are protected (SDG 14: Life Below Water). In 1987, Gina formed part of the committee which created the National Trust for the Cayman Islands. Under her leadership as a founding member and as a continuous guiding voice on science, environment and heritage on their committees, the Trust has expanded to protecting 5% of Cayman’s land (SDG 15: Life on Land).

Gina Ebanks-Petrie

Job Title: Director

Organization: Department of Environment, Cayman Islands Government (doe.ky/#)

Location: Cayman Islands

Keithlin Caroo

Founder & Executive Director, Helen’s Daughters

Keithlin Caroo is from Saint Lucia and is the Founder and Executive Director of Helen’s Daughters, a non-profit organization with a special focus on rural women’s economic development through improved market access, adaptive agricultural techniques, and capacity-building. In addition, Helen’s Daughters mounted a successful communications strategy focusing on rural women through social media (Facebook and Instagram), online newsletters and print media, which reached over 10,000 readers. Helen’s Daughters is currently the only organization advocating for rural women’s economic empowerment and providing expertise in digital agriculture to rural women in the Eastern Caribbean.

Keithlin Caroo

Job Title: Founder & Executive Director

Organization: Helen’s Daughters (helensdaughters.org/)

Location: Saint Lucia

Lusia Latu-Jones

President/Director, Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Inc.

Lusia Latu-Jones is from Tongatapu island in Tonga, and is the President and Director of a self-funded youth support service NGO in Tonga known as Tonga Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Inc. (TYEE) which was established in 2014. Lusia is responsible for the smooth running and direction of the TYEE Management Team and its initiatives and programs. The TYEE NGO provides youth services aimed at helping young school leavers aged 18 to 35 to gain meaningful employment or to become successful entrepreneurs through skills development and mentorship support. TYEE has over 3000 registered youth in their program, and 68% of the youth gained meaningful employment, furthered their education through scholarships, and created their own job opportunities and green jobs through their entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology-driven programs.

Lusia Latu-Jones

Job Title: President/Director

Organization: Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Inc. (tyeetonga.org)

Location: Tonga

Most Impactful Island Innovation Ambassador

Alfredo M. Coro II

Municipal Mayor, Municipality of Del Carmen, Siargao Islands, Philippines

Alfredo Coro is from Siargao Island in the Philippines, where he works as the Municipal Mayor in the Municipality of Del Carmen. Despite being an authority in his country, he has always been willing to work voluntarily, create materials and actively participate in conversation. His work is very honourable to make his island known in the Island Innovation network, contribute to virtual events as a speaker, participate in working groups , and he is always asking how he can collaborate for a more sustainable future. Alfredo has been a speaker at Island Innovation virtual events, he has actively participated in the breakout rooms, he has created promotional videos for the Virtual Island Summit including extensive information, and he has helped to make Island Innovation known on his island.

Alfredo M. Coro II

Job Title: Municipal Mayor

Affiliated Organization: Municipality of Del Carmen, Siargao Islands, Philippines (visitdelcarmen.com/mayors-corner/)

Location: Siargao Island, Philippines

Maria Chnaraki (Hnaraki)

Adjunct Professor | Associate Teaching Professor / Scientific & Educational Consultant, Drexel University / Kids Love Greece

Maria (C)Hnaraki is from the Greek island of Crete and is an Adjunct Professor and Associate Teaching Professor at Drexel University, as well as a Scientific & Educational Consultant at the family travel company, Kids Love Greece. Maria actively works to promote Crete on the international stage. She created a virtual event with high-level researchers in Greek island studies and collaborators from the United States in relation to cultural heritage. She has been a speaker at various editions of the Virtual Island Summit, has actively participated in the monthly meetings with ambassadors, and has recommended speakers on various topics for the Island Finance Forum and other events organized by Island Innovation.

Maria Chnaraki (Hnaraki)

Job Title: Adjunct Professor | Associate Teaching Professor / Scientific & Educational Consultant

Affiliated Organization: Drexel University (drexel.edu/) / Kids Love Greece (kidslovegreece.com/en/)

Location: Crete, Greece

Emilio De Jesús

Microgrid Researcher | Laboratory Professor / Co-founder - Content Creator / Host, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra / Energía Journal

Emilio De Jesús is a technological entrepreneur and sustainability enthusiast from the Dominican Republic. He divides his time and energy between his academic work as a professor and Microgrid Researcher at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (PUCMM), and Energía Journal, a communication portal to the most relevant information regarding the energy and sustainability conversation in the Dominican Republic. Emilio has been an active Island Innovation Ambassador, including speaking at the Virtual Island Summit 2021, and helping to promote and support our other events and projects.

Emilio De Jesús

Job Title: Microgrid Researcher | Laboratory Professor / Co-founder – Content Creator / Host

Affiliated Organization: Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (pucmm.edu.do/) / Energía Journal (anchor.fm/energiajournal)

Location: Dominican Republic

Zaidy Afrin

SIDS SDG & Blue economy researcher, World Maritime University

Zaidy Afrin is a Marine Biologist from Fiji, with specialization in environmental management and ocean affairs. Zaidy’s underwater field of work involves coral reef monitoring, designing and setting coral, seaweed, pearl farms, reef restoration efforts, lionfish invasion programs (Caribbean region) and Crown of thorns removal program (Pacific region). Zaidy is currently a PhD Candidate at the Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, World Maritime University within the framework of the International Maritime Organization, a Specialized Agency of the United Nations. Her current research focuses on SDG 14 and Blue economy for SIDS. Zaidy has been an active Island Innovation Ambassador, including speaking at the Virtual Island Summit 2021, and helping to promote and support our other events and projects.

Zaidy Afrin

Job Title: SIDS SDG & Blue economy researcher

Affiliated Organization: World Maritime University (wmu.se/)

Location: Fiji

Sustainable Energy Initiative of the Year

Scaling Smart, Solar, Energy Access Microgrids in Haiti

EarthSpark International

The Scaling Smart, Solar, Energy Access Microgrids project in Haiti project is run by EarthSpark International and through its microgrid development company, Participant Power, they are leading a microgrid expansion project that will bring reliable grid electricity to around 84,000 people throughout rural Haiti in the next 5 years. The new grids will be powered by 100% solar energy and will deliver reliable 24/7 electricity with new infrastructure in two dozen towns.

Scaling Smart, Solar, Energy Access Microgrids in Haiti

Affiliated Organization: EarthSpark International (earthsparkinternational.org)

Location: Haiti

Chalki GR-eco Island

Municipality of Chalki Island

The Chalki GReco Island project is on the Greek island of Chalki , and is run by the Municipality of Chalki Island. The goal of this project is the transition of the island’s energy system to clean, renewable energy sources and a transition to climate neutrality. This project has helped to unite the island inhabitants through a common goal of decarbonizing Chalki, by using only renewable energy sources to contribute to the reduction of climate change. The project includes a solar farm and electric vehicles.

Chalki GR-eco Island

Affiliated Organization: Municipality of Chalki Island (dimoschalkis.gr/en/)

Location: Luzon island, Philippines

Solar Schools

Blue Planet Energy

The Solar Schools project is on the island of Puerto Rico, and has been developed through a partnership between Blue Planet Energy, a battery-based microgrid solution provider, and the American Red Cross. Together, they have installed resilient energy systems at key school facilities in 125 communities across Puerto Rico. These clean energy systems enable schools to offset their costly energy and the need for unreliable diesel backup generators - providing savings year-round, decarbonizing the island’s electricity, and offering aid and comfort for communities during frequent outages.

Solar Schools

Affiliated Organization: Blue Planet Energy (https://www.blueplanetenergy.com/)

Location: Puerto Rico

Resilient Island Award

Marine Megafauna Conservation Organization’s

Educational programme in South East Mauritius as part of their main Project “Conservation threatened marine megafauna species in Mauritius”.

The Marine Megafauna Conservation Organization’s educational programme in South East Mauritius was designed to create alternative livelihoods for the local community affected by the devastating Wakashio oil spill of July 2020. This collaboration between MMCO, the UNDP, and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation has enabled local participants to find new employment, overcome depression, gain self-confidence and be empowered with knowledge to use marine resources more effectively, leading to a sustainable future and resilience to challenges.

Marine Megafauna Conservation Organization’s

Educational programme in South East Mauritius as part of their main Project “Conservation threatened marine megafauna species in Mauritius”.

Implementing organization: Marine Megafauna Conservation Organization (marinemegafaunaconservation.org)’s educational programme in South East Mauritius as part of their main Project “Conservation threatened marine megafauna species in Mauritius”

Implementing partners: The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), UNDP, and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation.

Location: Mauritius

barbudanGO

In 2017, the island of Barbuda, one of the two main islands of Antigua and Barbuda was devastated by Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm. Following this, community leaders formed barbudanGO, the first non-profit founded by Barbudans, to bring transparency to disaster relief and encourage environmental and cultural stewardship. After conducting a Disaster Recovery Survey, barbudanGO was able to mobilize funding to provide 87 families with water tanks and spouting kits to improve access to potable water. They also developed and submitted a climate change curriculum to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Antigua and Barbuda, which has been implemented in nine schools, and have been involved in a number of other important projects to help develop the resilience of Barbuda.

barbudanGO

Implementing organization: barbudanGO

Location: Barbuda, Antigua & Barbuda

Resilient Islands project in Jamaica (part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI))

The Nature Conservancy

In Jamaica, through a collaborative approach, The Nature Conservancy are building capacities and increasing the resilience of the people and community of Old Harbour Bay through the Resilient Islands project. This project is a part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and is a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In Jamaica, The Nature Conservancy collaborates with the Jamaica Red Cross National Society. To better adapt to the effects of climate change, increase community resilience and boost local livelihoods, The Nature Conservancy collaborated with government, key stakeholders and community members.

Resilient Islands project in Jamaica (part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI))

Implementing organization: The Nature Conservancy

Implementing partners: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IRFC)

Location: Jamaica

COVID-19 response award

Reach Within: Getting to the root of childhood trauma, simply.

Reach Within

Reach Within: Getting to the root of childhood trauma, simply is an initiative that was created by Reach Within, a Grenada-based NGO, which is the principal program of the Bartholomew J. Lawson Foundation for Children and a project of the Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation. When COVID-19 first hit the island, Reach Within already had direct lines of contact to Grenada's most vulnerable children and teens. The team completed a rapid needs assessment for this population within days of the initial lockdown and pivoted service delivery to ensure optimal well-being. Reach Within were able to successfully address the three immediate needs communicated to their team which were, food scarcity, heightened levels of stress for professional caregivers, and increased triggers for children and teens who were already working to overcome developmental trauma.

Reach Within: Getting to the root of childhood trauma, simply.

Organization: Reach Within (https://www.reachwithin.org/)

Location: Grenada

Caribbean E-Learning Platform

Carbon Zero Institute of Trinidad & Tobago

The Caribbean E-Learning Platform was started by the Carbon Zero Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CZITT). This response was conceptualised as a means of supporting Caribbean secondary school students who were stranded at home as a result of COVID-19 school closures. The planning started in April 2020 and the platform was established in June 2020. CZITT has softened the impact of COVID-19 on students and allowed thousands of them to access resources that were not available elsewhere. Also, the platform has demonstrated that hybrid solutions are workable even when the pandemic has ebbed. The number of subscribers has now passed 10,000, with students from all English-speaking Caribbean countries, from Jamaica to Guyana, using the material offered.

Caribbean E-Learning Platform

Organization: Carbon Zero Institute of Trinidad & Tobago (czitt.com/)

Location: Trinidad & Tobago

Level Up Grant Programme

N.C.B Foundation

The Level Up Grant Programme was created in Jamaica by the N.C.B Foundation as an innovative response to aiding Jamaicans to upskill or reskill in short-term courses that enabled them to become business owners after losing their jobs due to the pandemic. Through the introduction of the Level Up Grant Programme, many Jamaicans are now able to earn while comfortably providing for themselves and their families. Participants have earned over US$100,000 combined and over 1,600 persons have used their newly obtain qualifications to start their own businesses. As of 2021, over 6,000 individuals acquired a new skill and certification from one of the accredited partners and have established their online businesses.

Level Up Grant Programme

Organization: N.C.B Foundation (myncb.com/Corporate-Social-Responsibility)

Location: Jamaica

Blue Economy Initiative Award

Regenerative seaweed farming and net recycling linked to improved Marine Protected Areas (iMPA)

Coast 4C

The Regenerative seaweed farming and net recycling linked to iMPA is an initiative run by Coast 4C in 10 small island villages across the central and western Visayas in the Philippines, with a planned expansion to a further 20 small island villages. Historically, sustainable financing of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has focused almost exclusively on tourism. However, tourism is not suitable everywhere and has a poor track record of benefiting small island communities, often creating conflict. Coast 4C have developed the first investible blue economy solution for MPAs based on regenerative seaweed. To date, Coast 4C’s Regenerative seaweed farming and net recycling initiative in the Philippines have generated over US$130,000 of community income that has helped to halve the incidence of poverty within these island villages. Socioeconomic surveys have revealed that 64% of people perceived an increased catch per unit effort for fishing since the implementation of iMPAs.

Regenerative seaweed farming and net recycling linked to improved Marine Protected Areas (iMPA)

Organization: Coast 4C (coast4c.com/)

Location: 10 small island villages in the Philippines across the central and western Visayas, and expanding to a further 20 small island villages.

The Sea Power project

Aqua-Farms Organization (AFO)

The Sea Power project is run by the Aqua-Farms Organization (AFO) in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Since the beginning of the project, they have been able to support 36 women in deep water seaweed farming, both on Unguja and Pemba islands. The most recent harvest was 1.02 tonnes of the most vulnerable seaweed species cottonii from deep water farming using innovative technology tubular nets. AFO have not only helped to create this significant solution but also improved the skill and experience of the local communities, created markets for these women on seaweed value addition and marketing, as well as supported their produce to reach a large market through the establishment of a Sustainable Blue Shop.

The Sea Power project

Organization: Aqua-Farms Organization (AFO) (afo.or.tz/)

Location: Unguja and Pemba islands, Zanzibar, Tanzania

The Sea Academy project

SULUBAAI Environmental Foundation inc.

The Sea Academy project is run by the SULUBAAI Environmental Foundation inc. on Pangatalan Island in the Philippines. When the foundation team arrived on Pangatalan island, the small island was completely devastated, including its coral reef. They embarked on a huge project with the local population. Through the Sea Academy project they have planted more than 60,000 trees and plants and more than 10,000 mangrove propagules, they have created a marine protected area of 50 hectares, they have created a simple artificial reef that can be replicated in other sites, and have innovated in a method of coral cutting now recognized by Unesco. They employ more than 20 peoples from neighboring villages, and are the only local employer in their bay. They have trained people in different functions such as diving, coral restoration, clean ups, mangrove plantations and most importantly the management of the resources of the bay in conjunction with the authorities of the islands.

The Sea Academy project

Organization: SULUBAAI Environmental Foundation inc. (sulubaai-foundation.com/)

Location: Pangatalan Island, the Philippines

Sustainable Company of the Year

Island Green Living Association

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Island Green Living Association is located on St. John island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Island Green got its start 17 years ago as Island Green Building Association with the mandate to promote green building and sustainable development. In 2014, due to a plethora of environmental challenges such as overflowing landfills, accelerated coral damage due to toxic sunscreen, lack of recycling, and more, its scope was expanded to encompass all aspects of sustainable living, and they rebranded as Island Green Living Association. Key to Island Green’s mission is encouraging people to reconsider “waste” as a resource.

Island Green Living Association

Location: St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Island Growers Barbados Limited

Barbados

Island Growers Barbados Limited has established the region's first 100% climate smart and climate resilient food production facility in Barbados. The IGBL farm utilizes their proprietary hurricane resistant greenhouse systems protecting an advanced hydroponic system, making them the first sustainable farms that are risk mitigated from hurricane, flood, drought, volcanic ash, and other climate risks. The fully integrated system means that IGBL can continue to grow and distribute organic quality fresh produce even during any major weather event.

Island Growers Barbados Limited

Location: Barbados

Firdous Biotech

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Firdous Biotech was established in 2021 on the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania, East Africa with the aim of offering sustainable and effective solutions to agricultural challenges in Africa and around the world. They effectively recycle plant nutrients and bioactive compounds by processing organic waste products into liquid and powder agriculture inputs that farmers can use as fertilizers and biostimulants to grow their crops. Because their products are organic, carbon based agriculture inputs, the products also adds carbon back into the soil.

Firdous Biotech

Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Most Transformational Government Sustainability Initiative

Food Tourism and Agritourism Initiative (FTAI)

Vanuatu Department of Tourism

The Food Tourism and Agritourism Initiative (FTAI) (Produktif Turism Blong Yumi Initiative) was created by the Vanuatu Department of Tourism. The FTA Initiative has been developed in a way to support diversification and protect businesses and Indigenous Ni Vanuatu from the volatility and unpredictability of the tourism industry. Positive outcomes are leading to increased disposable income, access to grants to transition to renewable energy, enhancing preservation of cultural knowledge, promoting more sustainable agricultural practices and decreasing consumption of imported and low nutritional food.

Food Tourism and Agritourism Initiative (FTAI)

(Produktif Turism Blong Yumi Initiative) (https://www.agritourismvanuatu.com/), part of the Vanuatu Sustainable Tourism Strategy

Government Department: Vanuatu Department of Tourism (tourism.gov.vu/index.php/en/)

Location: Vanuatu

Sustainability Charter of the Azores

Azores Destination Management Organization - Azores DMO

The Sustainability Charter of the Azores is an initiative of the Azores Government to reinforce the sustainable development of the entire territory. This project reinforces the strategic positioning of the Azores as a sustainable destination, with the purpose of leaving no one behind. The Charter complements the certification process of the Azores, involving all agents from private sector, public sector and NGO to work towards a more sustainable archipelago. To do this, it supports entities from all sectors of the region to integrate sustainability into their organizational models (whether public, private or non-profit). The project started in December 2017 with 45 entities, and now there are more than 155 subscribing entities.

Sustainability Charter of the Azores

Government Department: Azores Destination Management Organization – Azores DMO (sustainable.azores.gov.pt/en/)

Location: Azores

Guam Green Growth Initiative

80-member Working Group of government, academia, private sector, non-profit, and youth partners facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability

The Guam Green Growth Initiative is the most comprehensive public-private partnership ever created to achieve a sustainable future for the U.S. island territory of Guam. The initiative develops tangible solutions to sustainability challenges and contributes to a green economy for the island region. In September 2019, government leaders promulgated Executive Order 2019-23, creating an 80-member (now 99-member) G3 Working Group (G3WG) of government, academia, private sector, non-profit, and youth partners to transition Guam toward a sustainable future. Guam is now united with islands around the world in advancing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through locally-informed and culturally driven strategies.

Guam Green Growth Initiative

Government Department: 80-member Working Group of government, academia, private sector, non-profit, and youth partners facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability.

Location: Guam

Green Finance and Investment Award

CARICOM Development Fund with their Credit Risk Abatement Facility (CRAF)

Barbados

The CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) is located in Barbados. The CDF has created a Credit Risk Abatement Facility (CRAF). This is an ecosystem (market mechanism) that aims to incentivize additional lending from local financing institutions, by providing credit risk abatement for renewable energy and energy efficiency interventions within the Caribbean Community. Special focus is placed on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The Credit Risk Abatement Facility has a regional reach of twelve member countries in the Caribbean. Since its inception, CRAF has reached out to and facilitated discussions with several financial institutions within the region to partner with the facility. Of note, CRAF’s reach is extended to a broad group of financial institutions that include Development Banks, Commercial Banks, Energy Service Companies, Credit Unions and any registered fund providing lending to SMEs. To date, a master guarantee agreement was signed with the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), St. Lucia and the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Belize.

CARICOM Development Fund with their Credit Risk Abatement Facility (CRAF)

Location: Barbados

SMILO (Small Islands Organisation)

SMILO is located in France and supports 40 small islands around the world.

The Small Islands Organisation (SMILO) is located in France and supports 40 small islands around the world. SMILO supports small islands of less than 150 km² to curb impacts linked to human activities and development, whilst fostering innovations that benefit the sustainability of the local community and their environment. They created the Small Islands Fund, a green finance mechanism which finances concrete and innovative operations on small islands in the field of waste, energy, biodiversity, water & sanitation, landscape and heritage. Their objective is to support concrete and impactful actions on the ground that contribute to the sustainability of local communities, and can be replicated to other islands and territories. The Small Islands Fund has already funded projects on 24 islands all around the world, for a total amount of 1 million euros. On each of the islands the project has been coordinated by a local stakeholder (civil society organisation, national park, protected area manager, municipality/government) in partnership with the local community.

SMILO (Small Islands Organisation)

Location: SMILO is located in France and supports 40 small islands around the world.

Coast Funds

Canada

Coast Funds is located in Canada and serves many Indigenous Nations who are located on islands and whose territories cover islands and archipelagos in the Pacific Northwest. Coast Funds was created to form a vital connection between sustainable development, the well-being of First Nations communities, and the permanent conservation of the region’s globally rare ecosystems. First Nations work closely with Coast Funds to measure the contribution every project makes to strengthening environmental conservation, economic prosperity, social empowerment, and cultural vitality. Through investments with Coast Funds, First Nations have attracted and invested $361,285,647 (CAN) into diversification of their economies. First Nations have provided 724 certifications to community members through investments with Coast Funds. First Nations have conducted 291 scientific research or habitat restoration initiatives, through investments with Coast Funds, on 62 different species, including whale, bear, wolverine, salmon, herring, and more. First Nations have led 98 traditional stewardship projects to protect and conserve resources and ecosystems in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii as an important element of projects through investments with Coast Funds.

Coast Funds

Location: Canada. The organization serves many Indigenous Nations who are located on islands and whose territories cover islands and archipelagos in the Pacific Northwest.

Innovative Island Research Award

Agricultural genebank research

Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePACT) operated by the Pacific Community (SPC)'s Land Resources Division.

The agricultural genebank research is conducted by the team at the Pacific Community's Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePACT), the Pacific’s main regional gene bank. CePaCT is located in Fiji and is operated by the Pacific Community (SPC)'s Land Resources Division. The centre not only conserves the region’s valuable genetic diversity, but also undertakes the important mission of distributing it, making it available for growers throughout the Pacific to use. The Centre has a strong research programme. Currently, research activities include the development of micropropagation protocols for sandalwood and pandanus; cryopreservation of aroids; salt tolerance studies on swamp taro and taro virus research. In the past, CePaCT has worked with the University of the South Pacific (USP) in supporting Masters in kava micropropagation and taro cryopreservation, and with USP and Queensland University of Technology in supporting a PhD in somatic embryogenesis.

Agricultural genebank research

Organization: Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePACT) operated by the Pacific Community (SPC)’s Land Resources Division.

Location: Viti Levu, Fiji

St. Vincent Volcanic Ash Upcycling Project

Global Emergency Relief, Recovery and Reconstruction (GER3)

The St. Vincent Volcanic Ash Upcycling Project was conducted on the island of St. Vincent in St Vincent & Grenadines by Global Emergency Relief, Recovery, and Reconstruction (GER3). GER3’s mission is to help crisis-affected communities build back better. With the eruption of La Soufriere, they saw an opportunity to use their experience and expertise in disaster response to help St. Vincent do just that. GER3’s ash-incorporated concrete initiative – through a partnership with the St. Bernard Project (SBP) – is designing the best technique for incorporating volcanic ash into concrete building blocks. GER3’s organic composting project brought together the technical understanding and rigorous research methodologies of scholars from the Richmond Vale Academy and elsewhere with the practical, local knowledge of farmers to create an economically viable and environmentally beneficial product from the sargassum on the beaches and the ash on the land.

St. Vincent Volcanic Ash Upcycling Project

Organization: Global Emergency Relief, Recovery and Reconstruction (GER3) (ger3.org/), in collaboration with many individuals and organizations, both local and international.

Location: St Vincent, St Vincent & Grenadines

AZORES – ALL IN BLUE - Tourism & Autism

Azores All In Blue

The inclusive tourism project, Azores - ALL IN BLUE, is an innovation and development project, which takes the perspective of investigating and economically valuing the tourist experience of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their caregivers. This investigation aims to assess the responses/needs valued by these families, but also to assess the responsiveness of tour operators. Its purpose is to intervene in the current situation, empowering these agents and promoting a change in mindset and performance that will bring huge growth in accessibility and sustainability to the Azores. What highlights this project is its action-research methodology, which seeks to articulate the acquisition of knowledge with practice, in a process of active participation of people - families with children with autism and tourist operators/suppliers – in the creation of practical responses for both families and tourism.

AZORES – ALL IN BLUE – Tourism & Autism

Organization: Azores All In Blue (azoresallinblue.pt/)

Location: Azores

The Earthshot Prize

Island Innovation is an official nominating organization for The Earthshot Prize a global prize launched by Prince William, designed to solve our planet’s greatest environmental challenges. Island Innovation has been invited to submit nominations across all five categories. Winners in each category are awarded £1 million to help scale and roll out their innovations.

Island Innovation Awards

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