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Overview

Leadership representing civil society, the private sector, and government founded the MEPA Trust on May 22, 2015, as a non-profit company, drawing upon existing institutional strengths and ensuring an innovative and multi-sectoral perspective (MEPA Trust 2015b). The World Bank, German-owned Bank KfW, The Global Environment Facility (GEF) The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund provided technical and financial support for this process. Developed initially to manage funding flows that will be generated by the CBF, the MEPA Trust was designed to accommodate a diverse range of funding flows that will catalyze and support the protection, recovery, and effective management of Antigua and Barbuda’s Protected Areas (PAs). The MEPA Trust’s mandate extends beyond the management of CBF funds, and the MEPA Trust will seek to generate additional sustainable funding to support climate change adaptation, mitigation, conservation, biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods and other important climate and sustainability goals. The MEPA Trust is envisioned to be a core National Mechanism for sustained financing to support local community environmental initiatives.

Our Mission

Work with multi-sectoral partners to catalyze and support the protection, recovery, and effective management of Antigua and Barbuda’s protected areas to build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Mandate

To support the long-term management and expansion of Antigua and Barbuda’s areas of land and/or sea which are specifically dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity and natural resources and other activities that contribute substantially to the conservation, protection and maintenance of biodiversity as identified after consultation with stakeholders.

Our Vision

Antigua and Barbuda’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems are vibrant and healthy, natural and human communities are adaptive and resilient to change, and ecosystems are sustained for future generations.

Core Values

Capacity Building

The MEPA Trust is committed to capacity building both internally and externally and will work to build capacity through implementing best practices from conservation trust funds (CTFs), learning from their activities, participating in and supporting grantee participation in relevant capacity building training and workshops, and amending their processes and actions to improve the achievement of their goals.

Cooperation and Inclusivity

The MEPA Trust will work in partnership with communities and NGOs, academia, government agencies, and the private sector. The MEPA Trust will engage and share information with diverse stakeholders, including private businesses (e.g., dive shops, hotels), fisherfolk and fisherfolk associations, other community-based organizations, Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, academia, and government agencies.

Conservation and Sustainability

The MEPA Trust will work towards and in support of the conservation and sustainability of Antigua and Barbuda’s ecosystems and species. The MEPA Trust will also work to uphold these values in their internal operations, and will work to use environmentally sustainable practices at all times.

Accountability

The MEPA Trust is accountable for all actions and decisions internally and to their constituents.

Transparency and Integrity

The MEPA Trust is committed to openness, transparency, and honesty in its operations and in issuing grants.

Dedication and Volunteerism

The MEPA Trust Board serves on a voluntary basis and is dedicated to continued service of the MEPA Trust’s vision and mission.

Empowerment and Equity

The MEPA Trust is internally and externally committed to respecting and helping empower communities and individuals throughout Antigua and Barbuda, and as a non-partisan group, it will work to ensure equity in engaging with partners and throughout the grant-making process.