The project seeks to increase the climate resilience of agricultural production and ensure food security through improved ecosystem services from agroforestry, silvopastoral systems, reforestation and assisted natural forest regeneration in seven municipalities vulnerable to climate change in Cuba.

According to the Vulnerability and Climate Change Adaptation Index in the Latin America and Caribbean region, Cuba is classified as a “high risk” country in terms of vulnerability to effects of climate change. Future climate change patterns, such as increased temperature, prolonged droughts and decreased rainfall, will affect agricultural production in Cuba, particularly of staple crops (rice, beans), negatively impacting the livelihoods of farm households and the availability of agricultural products, and ultimately putting food security at risk. It is projected that under the business-as-usual scenario, net primary agricultural productivity and biomass density will decline.

Although the Government of Cuba considers the entire country to be at risk from climate impacts, it has identified 73 municipalities as highest priority, and has selected two specific areas of the country for immediate action encompassing four municipalities in Las Tunas province (Jobabo, Amancio, Colombia) in the Eastern Region and three in Villa Clara/Matanzas provinces (Los Arabos, Quemado de Guines, Coralillo, Santo Domingo) in the Central Region. Those are the targeted project areas. Therefore, the selected seven municipalities for the two project locations are among the municipalities most affected by climate change/agricultural drought in Cuba.

The GCF grant (USD 38.3 million) corresponds to 31.9% of the project. The rest of the co-financing is composed by a in-kind loan (USD 58.5) and a grant (USD 23.2) from other organizations/institutions.