About Small Island Future Fest (SIFF) 2025
The Small Island Future Fest (SIFF) is the Caribbean’s premier environmental festival, designed to celebrate and promote sustainable living in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). SIFF is more than just a festival, it’s a movement showcasing the resilience and innovation of island communities.
Through food, fashion, music, dance, theatre, applied science, and live demonstrations, SIFF creatively integrates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to inspire action and raise awareness. Islanders at the forefront of the blue, green and orange economy will share their experiences, highlighting practical models of sustainability.
As the flagship initiative of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Ashley Lashley Foundation, SIFF builds on the legacy of the National Green Knowledge Fairs (2016 & 2017).
With a focus on Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Life on Land (SDG 15), SIFF is a celebration of Caribbean resilience and sustainability, ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey toward a greener future.
Founding Organization
- UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme
Launched in 1992, the year of the Rio Earth Summit, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a global corporate programme, funded by GEF, implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnership and executed by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
GEF SGP provides communities and civil society organizations in developing and transition countries with grants to enable them to implement projects in the focal areas of climate change, biodiversity, sustainable forest management, land degradation, international waters, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs)/chemicals. These community-based projects must meet global environmental objectives while at the same time also supporting poverty reduction and local empowerment objectives. Since its creation SGP has provided grants to over 14,500 communities in over 125 developing countries.
From 1994-2011 Barbados has been a part of GEF SGP under the Sub-regional Programme for Barbados and the OECS. Since 2011, these countries now operate under a country modality. The GEF SGP operates in a decentralized, transparent and country-driven manner through country programmes teams composed of a National Coordinator (NC), Programme Assistant (PA), and a National Steering Committee (NSC) in each participating country.
Meet the Implementing Organization – The Ashley Lashley Foundation
The Ashley Lashley Foundation (ALF), founded in 2019, is dedicated to promoting environmental justice, health, wellness, and youth empowerment, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Through initiatives like the HEY Campaign, BYCASE, and Eco-Fit Youth, ALF has engaged thousands of young people across 20 countries and awarded over $30,000 in grants to youth leaders.
ALF has led and partnered on impactful projects such as the Wildey Green Business Project and the SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit. With support from organizations like UNICEF, the Clara Lionel Foundation, and the Pan American Health Organization, the Foundation continues to raise awareness on the health impacts of climate change and drive social change across vulnerable communities.
