In short
The Caribbean Development Bank supports MSMEs mainly through financial intermediaries and technical assistance. Its 2017 policy records about 85% of private sector commitments through intermediary lending, compared with about 4% through direct loans.
Direct private sector lending exists, but CDB says it focuses mainly, though not only, on public-private partnerships and energy and transport. A small business should first identify the local institution or open programme that carries CDB support, then prepare evidence of ownership, management, financial capacity, development impact and the ability to deliver the project.
The routes a small business can use
- Financial intermediaries. CDB lends through national development finance institutions and other eligible financial institutions so they can lend to MSMEs.
- Technical assistance. CDB uses technical assistance for capacity building, business development services, entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Specific grant calls. CIIF supports five creative subsectors. Its portal stated on 21 August 2026 that there were no open calls, so owners must check the live portal rather than rely on an old deadline.
- Direct lending. This is a separate route, assessed case by case, and the policy gives priority to enterprises effectively controlled by nationals of CDB borrowing member countries.
What to prepare before approaching the route
Prepare current financial statements, projections and assumptions, the project budget, evidence of management and technical capacity, the development result, risks and safeguards, and the source of any contribution the programme requires. CDB's policy says direct projects are evaluated on financial, economic, technical, managerial, social, gender and environmental aspects.
Terms depend on the instrument and the intermediary. The held sources do not publish one standing small-business rate, amount or application checklist for all CDB-backed finance. Ask the local institution or read the current call before treating any condition as applicable.
Questions owners ask
Can a small business apply directly to CDB for a normal small loan?
The held policy allows direct private sector lending, but says MSME support is mainly through technical assistance and intermediary lending. Direct lending focuses mainly, though not only, on public-private partnerships and energy and transport.
Does CDB have an open creative industries grant now?
The CDB submission portal stated on 21 August 2026 that there were no open calls. The most recent call in the held source closed on 31 January 2026.
What does a CDB-backed applicant need to show?
The exact checklist comes from the intermediary or call. The policy identifies financial, economic, technical, managerial, social, gender and environmental assessment, and CIIF calls add their own registration, nationality, experience and co-financing rules.
Can EICCIO Advisors submit to CDB for me?
No. We can prepare the business plan, cash flow, records and compliance with the owner. The owner signs and submits, and the lender or funder decides.
Last checked against these sources on 18 September 2026: Caribbean Development Bank, Private Sector Development Policy and Strategy, July 2017; Caribbean Development Bank, Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund.
See also: Regional financing guide · Caribbean Export grants
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