DEN HAAG – Local organizations on Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba can apply for funding to support projects aimed at strengthening healthcare services on the islands.
The funding is being made available by ZonMw, which has allocated a total of €360,000 for practical initiatives designed to improve healthcare delivery throughout the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
Under the program, individual projects may receive up to €60,000 in funding for a maximum duration of 24 months. At least 75 percent of the awarded funds must be spent directly on the islands.
According to ZonMw, the subsidy is intended for projects that deliver tangible improvements in healthcare services. Examples include initiatives that strengthen cooperation between healthcare providers, reduce waiting lists, improve access to care, or provide support for vulnerable groups such as elderly residents, refugees, and other at-risk populations.
Eligible applicants include healthcare institutions, educational organizations, and non-profit entities operating within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. A key requirement is that the lead applicant must be based on one of the six islands.
The program aims to encourage locally driven solutions to healthcare challenges while supporting innovation and collaboration within island healthcare systems.
Healthcare remains a major priority across the Caribbean territories, where limited resources, workforce shortages, and increasing demand for medical services continue to place pressure on healthcare providers.
Organizations interested in applying must first submit a mandatory pre-application by July 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time (8:00 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time). The deadline for submitting full applications is August 25, 2026.
To help potential applicants prepare their proposals, ZonMw will host information sessions on June 4 and June 23, 2026.
The funding opportunity provides local organizations with a chance to develop projects that address healthcare challenges while contributing to stronger and more resilient healthcare systems across the Caribbean islands of the Kingdom.