The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have launched a new joint report titled “Caribbean Development Dynamics Report 2026: Investing in Sustainable and Resilient Development.”

This second edition of the report concludes that greater investment is needed for Caribbean countries to strengthen resilience, close infrastructure gaps, and achieve sustainable growth.

The main findings of the report was central in the discussions among regional leaders, economists, policymakers, and international partners in Port of Spain, Trinidad during the ONE Caribbean Ministerial Dialogue on April 21. The event facilitated regional dialogue and generated actionable recommendations for IDB member states and the wider region. 

The Caribbean Development Dynamics Report 2026 presents three priority areas for policy action to drive sustainable growth:

1. Deepening Regional Integration and International Partnerships

The report emphasises that deeper regional cooperation can amplify investment, reduce costs, strengthen institutions, and bring the necessary scale to projects that would be difficult to deliver individually. Platforms such as the IDB Group’s ONE Caribbean program provide a practical framework for this cooperation, aligning priorities, strengthening project pipelines, and mobilising public and private investment across countries.

2. Embedding Resilience in Investment Planning

The report underscores the essential role of resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and well-designed public-private partnerships in protecting livelihoods, safeguarding natural assets, and reducing long-term fiscal risks. Investments aligned with the Caribbean’s inherent strengths – such as the blue economy, energy, the creative economy, and tourism – can robustly support long-term development.

3. Diversifying Financing Sources 

The scale of required investment necessitates diversified financing sources, including domestic resource mobilisation, private-sector participation, and international capital flows. The report underscores the importance of innovative financial instruments, such as green, social, sustainability, and blue bonds, as well as debt-for-nature swaps and resilient debt clauses.