The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has taken another step forward in its commitment to sustainable development by signing a memorandum of understanding with the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The agreement was signed in Santiago, Chile, at the seventh meeting of the ISA Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, held from August 4 to 6, 2025.
More than just a technical document, it embodies a collective vision: to accelerate the energy transition of small island states thanks to solar energy, and reduce dependence on costly fossil fuel imports.
OECS: a central player in the Eastern Caribbean
Created in 1981, the OECS currently has eleven members, including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This regional organization plays a fundamental role in economic integration, shared governance and the coordination of public policies in strategic areas such as education, health, climate and energy.
The signing of this protocol with the ISA is part of a wider strategy to strengthen the economic and environmental resilience of a region particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, devastating hurricanes and volatile energy prices.
The strengths of the International Solar Alliance
The ISA, founded in 2015 on the initiative of India and France, today brings together 124 member states on four continents. It positions itself as a gas pedal of the solar transition, offering innovative financing, technical support and capacity-building programs. Its expertise is particularly valuable for countries in the South, which have to reconcile economic development with climate imperatives.
Under the agreement, ISA undertakes to :
- ✅ promote solar energy in member states,
- ✅ mobilize public and private funds via the World Solar Fund and other climate finance instruments,
- ✅ strengthen local skills through Solar Technology Application Resource Centers (STAR-C).
Action-oriented cooperation
For the OECS, the agreement signed with the ISA goes beyond mere institutional cooperation. It aims to achieve concrete results:
- ✅ develop solar projects capable of reducing dependence on diesel,
- ✅ facilitate access to financing for governments and businesses alike,
- ✅ create skilled jobs in green industries,
- ✅ pool solar equipment purchases to lower costs.
This strategy is perfectly aligned with the “Decade of Sustainable Energy” launched by the OECS for the period 2025-2035. The objective is clear: to make solar energy a cornerstone of the economic and social development of member states.
The specific challenges of small island states
OECS member countries belong to the category of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Their vulnerability is manifold:
- Geographical, because hurricanes and extreme weather can destroy energy infrastructures in a matter of hours;
- financial, since access to international credit remains limited due to the small size of their economies;
- structural, with heavy dependence on fossil fuel imports that weigh heavily on national budgets and trade balances.
Kerryne James, Minister for Climate Resilience and Co-Chair of the ISA Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized this point: “We need to recognize that access to finance for the energy transition remains a major challenge for SIDS.”
A regional center of excellence for solar energy
One of the most innovative aspects of this cooperation is the creation of a Regional Center of Excellence for Solar Energy. This will be used to develop local expertise, promote knowledge sharing and set up training programs tailored to Caribbean realities.
According to Ashish Khanna, Managing Director of the ISA, this initiative will also leverage digital innovations: “By promoting group purchasing of solar energy through digital bidding platforms, we will improve efficiency, reduce costs and attract large-scale private investment.”
A long-term vision for the Caribbean
For Dr Didacus Jules, Director General of OECS, the agreement signed is not just about energy. It is a truly strategic investment in the resilience and economic independence of the region. By transforming the energy sector, the OECS intends to offer its citizens a better quality of life, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Decade of Sustainable Energy (2025-2035) thus marks a turning point: solar energy is no longer seen as just another option, but as a pillar of the economic and social future of the islands of the Eastern Caribbean.
OECS as regional leader
By signing this agreement with the International Solar Alliance, the OECS confirms its role as a leader in the Caribbean energy transition. By focusing on solar energy, it is charting a credible course towards greater resilience, independence and prosperity for its member states. Beyond the technical aspect, this partnership embodies an ambition: to enable small island states to transform their vulnerability into an asset, by becoming laboratories for sustainable solutions on a global scale.
