Overview
The Bahamas is a Caribbean country of over 400,000 people. It is an archipelago consisting of around 700 islands and over 2,000 cays, located in the Atlantic Ocean near Florida. Tourism is a major economic driver, attracting millions of visitors annually. It gained independence from Britain in 1973 while remaining a member of the Commonwealth. The climate is tropical, with a hurricane season that can impact the islands. The official language is English, and the Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar. The Bahamas is also known for its role in offshore banking and financial services, contributing significantly to its economy.
Our partnership
The EU supports the Bahamas towards sustainable and inclusive development, in line with the Global Gateway Strategy. For the Caribbean, the Samoa Agreement sets out the objectives of the Caribbean-EU partnership. The region has specific needs, given the intrinsic vulnerability of its small economies to external shocks. The EU’s objectives include improving environmental sustainability and climate resilience; transitioning to a sustainable and diversified economy that supports decent jobs and growth, and promotes trade and investment; enhancing good governance, and building inclusive and secure societies where institutions are accountable, and no one is left behind.
The EU allocated €208 million for the Caribbean specific window.
EU-Bahamas partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Climate change and disaster risk management
The EU supports the Bahamas with investments in early detection warning systems in disaster risk management. Specific initiatives include:
- Installing an automatic weather station.
- Procuring a Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWS) station.
- A Climate Adaptation National Plan for the water sector.
- Raising public national awareness around climate change, including media sensitisation and a regional climate literacy campaign.
- Reconstruction with resilience in the energy sector
The EU is helping the Bahamas set up a resilient energy sector. That includes setting up solar energy and battery energy storage microgrids, as well as exploring ocean thermal energy conversion. Specific projects include:
- Strengthening cooperation on marine energy with the participation of the European private sector.
- Exploring ocean thermal energy conversion feasibility and developing an investment plan.
- Combining ocean thermal energy conversion with fresh water production and deep-water utilisation.
- Helping reconstruct the Bahamas’ energy infrastructure.
- Promoting investment in renewable energy through microgrids across East Grand Bahama.
- Training locals and building capacity in the operation and maintenance of solar energy and battery energy storage microgrid systems.
- Circular economy
The Bahamas is a beneficiary of the EU’s work with the UNEP in the Caribbean region on sustainable waste management. Regional-level initiatives that have helped the Bahamas include:
- Supporting national strategic planning, integrating circular economy approaches.
- Helping facilitate investments and sustainable financing of waste management.
- Strengthening waste information systems and capacity to deliver waste statistics.
- Strengthening the health system
The EU supports investments in the Bahamas’ health infrastructure. This infrastructure is being developed with climate resistant design and energy efficient standards. Specific projects include:
- Developing a Health National Adaptation Plan and supporting the Bahamas in the process of getting grants.
- Improving the delivery of healthcare.
- Enhancing the ability to provide primary care.
- Modernising the health information system.
