Selection Criteria for Concept Notes
The region remains committed to achieving the CARICOM “25 by 2025 + 5” targets through coordinated action, strategic investment, and policy alignment to transform Caribbean food systems. This document is a framework for reviewing and selecting concept notes submitted by national, regional and international CARICOM organizations for the hosting of technical sessions and events during the Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2026. It is intended to support a transparent, consistent, and strategic selection process that ensures the final programme reflects the Region’s priority areas
Purpose
These criteria will be used to guide the assessment, scoring, and selection of concept notes for Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2026. The criteria are designed to ensure that selected proposals:
- Align with the 2026 CWA theme, The New FACE of Caribbean Food Systems;
- Reflect regional priorities for transformation of agri-food systems, resilience, and food and nutrition security;
- Support inclusion of women, youth, vulnerable groups, fisherfolk, and private sector actors;
- Generate practical outcomes, partnerships, policy recommendations, or investment opportunities.
Strategic Focus Areas
The main areas of focus for CWA 2026 will be centered around the following:
- Food Security – Strengthening resilient and sustainable food production systems across agriculture and fisheries to enhance regional food sovereignty and reduce import dependency;
- Agribusiness Development – Promoting inclusive agribusiness growth through targeted investments, with a strong emphasis on empowering women in agriculture, accommodating vulnerable groups and supporting youth-led enterprises across value chains;
- Climate-Smart Technologies- Advancing the adoption of climate-resilient and climate-smart production systems, integrating innovation and technology to mitigate climate risks and improve productivity;
Recommended Selection Criteria
The following criteria will be used by the Technical Review Committee in assessing concept notes which have been submitted by entities wishing to host side events and technical sessions during CWA 2026. Preference will be given to concept notes that contribute to one or more of the areas of strategic focus
Table 1: Selection Criteria
| Criteria | Description | Assessment Points | Weight |
| 1. Alignment with the CWA 2026 Theme – The New FACE of Caribbean Food Systems | The concept note should demonstrate a clear and direct connection to one or more dimensions of the FACE framework while contributing to transformational and practical solutions for Caribbean food systems. |
|
35 |
| 2. Relevance to Regional Priority Commodities | The concept note should support regional agricultural development priorities. |
|
12 |
| 3. Inclusion of Women, Youth, and Vulnerable Groups | Selected concepts should promote inclusive participation and equitable benefits. |
|
10 |
| 4. Policy Relevance and Strategic Alignment | The concept note should support regional policy development, implementation, or harmonization relevant to Caribbean agriculture, fisheries, food safety, trade, and sustainable development. |
|
15 |
| 5. Practicality, Expected Outcomes, and Long-Term Impact | Concept notes should lead to clear, realistic outcomes, practical follow-up actions, and long-term regional value beyond CWA 2026. |
|
10 |
| 6. Budget Allocation and Event Dissemination Readiness | Concept Notes should demonstrate financial readiness and a clear strategy for visibility, outreach, and dissemination during CWA 2026. |
|
8 |
| 7. Innovation, Knowledge Exchange, and Regional Collaboration Value | The concept note should demonstrate the ability to promote innovation, facilitate regional knowledge exchange, strengthen partnerships, and encourage collaborative solutions that advance Caribbean food systems beyond CWA 2026. |
|
10 |
| 100 |
Submission Deadline
Concept notes should be submitted to RegionalAgriculture@caricom.org by 30 June 2026.
No late submissions will be accepted.
Only Concept Notes that meets the accepted threshold will be selected.