Terms of Service

Welcome to the Caribbean Blue Economy Hub ("the Hub"), a digital platform managed by [Managing Entity, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF)] to support sustainable marine and coastal initiatives across the Caribbean. By accessing or using any part of the Hub, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not accept these Terms, please refrain from using the platform.

1. Purpose of the Platform

The Hub exists to showcase and promote sustainable Blue Economy opportunities, facilitate connections between funders and project owners, support matchmaking and webinars, and encourage knowledge sharing and regional collaboration. It is intended to empower innovative business development, connect investors with projects, and strengthen the private sector’s role in marine and coastal conservation.

2. User Roles and Access

• Funders: May browse opportunities, evaluate projects, connect with product owners, and make financial contributions.

• Product Owners: May register projects, submit business plans, upload documents, and track engagement.

• Vetters: May evaluate projects and proposals based on established criteria.

• Donors: May browse public-facing information and make smaller contributions.

• Webinar Participants: May register for, attend, and engage in hosted events.

• CBF & Super Admins: Maintain and oversee platform operations, data integrity, and moderation.

Users must only access or perform actions appropriate to their assigned role.

3. Registration and User Data

Some features require you to register and provide personal information, such as your name, email address, and (where relevant) gender or attendance status. You agree that any information you provide will be true, accurate, and up-to-date. All personal data will be managed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

4. Content and Contributions

You may submit content including project descriptions, business plans, videos, or other materials. By submitting content, you warrant that you have the right to share it and that it does not infringe on any third-party rights. You grant the platform a non-exclusive license to use, display, and share your content with relevant stakeholders to enable matchmaking and evaluation. We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Terms or is otherwise inappropriate.

5. Third-Party Links & Resources

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services ("Third-Party Resources") for your convenience. These links do not imply any endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with the third-party entities.

5.1. No Control or Responsibility

We do not control, monitor, or guarantee the accuracy, legality, or completeness of any Third-Party Resources. You acknowledge and agree that we are not responsible for any content, products, services, or information provided by third parties.

5.2. Access at Your Own Risk

Your use of Third-Party Resources is entirely at your own risk. We strongly recommend that you review the applicable terms of service and privacy policies of any third-party websites before engaging with them.

5.3. No Partnership or Agency

Links to Third-Party Resources do not create any partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between us and the third-party provider.

5.4. Right to Remove Links

We reserve the right to modify or remove any Third-Party Links at any time without prior notice.

6. Funding and Donations

Funds provided through the platform may be used to maintain and improve the Hub, support business development and Blue Economy initiatives across the region and encourage private sector engagement. All contributions are handled transparently and may be subject to specific donor agreements or reporting requirements.

7. Use Restrictions

• Engage in unlawful, fraudulent, or misleading activities.

• Breach the platform’s security or access data outside your role.

• Post or transmit content that is harmful, offensive, or inappropriate, including abusive or discriminatory material.

We may remove or flag any content that violates these restrictions and suspend or terminate accounts where necessary.

8. Compliance with Governance Laws and Regulations

Users agree to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and governance frameworks relevant to marine and coastal activities within the Caribbean region, including but not limited to:

• National Legislation: Environmental, maritime, and commercial laws of the country where the user operates.

• Regional Agreements: Commitments under Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and other regional bodies governing sustainable marine resource use.

• International Conventions: Such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and other treaties ratified by Caribbean states.

Users are responsible for ensuring that any projects, proposals, or activities promoted through the Hub adhere to these governance standards. The Hub reserves the right to suspend or remove content or accounts that violate applicable laws or regulatory requirements.

9. Intellectual Property

All platform content—such as branding, designs, structures, and features—is the property of the managing entity or its partners or third parties and may not be used without permission. You retain ownership of the user-generated content you upload, but you grant us the rights outlined in Section 13 to host and display it.

10. Liability and Disclaimers

The Hub is provided "as is," and we make no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of user-submitted content. While we strive to keep the platform secure and functional, we are not liable for any loss, damage, or miscommunication resulting from the use of the platform.

11. Modifications to Terms

We may update or modify these Terms at any time. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance. We will notify users of significant updates through the site or via email where feasible.

12. Contact

For questions or support, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]

Platform Manager: Caribbean Biodiversity Fund

13. User Profiles & Account Security

13.1 Account Creation

Certain features—such as project registration, funding applications, or webinar participation—require the creation of a user profile. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete registration information.

• Maintain and promptly update your profile information as needed.

13.2 Confidentiality and Responsibility

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Service providers such as GitHub note that users must keep their accounts secure and that failure to do so can result in loss or damage that the provider is not liable for. We adopt the same principle: keep your password secure, do not share your login with others, and notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized use.

13.3 Single User Per Account

Each profile is intended for use by a single individual. Sharing accounts across multiple people is prohibited.

13.4 Termination for Misuse

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts if users provide false information, share accounts, or otherwise misuse the platform.

14. User-Generated Content & File Uploads

14.1 Definition

"User-generated content" includes any text, documents, images, videos, audio, data files, or other materials that you upload to the Hub—such as project proposals, business plans, pitch decks, comments, or multimedia submissions.

14.2 Ownership and License

You retain ownership of your submitted content. However, you grant the Hub a non-exclusive, worldwide license to host, display, transmit, and share your content as required to operate and promote the platform. Similar to other online platforms, you must ensure you have the legal right to upload any content you submit and that it does not infringe on third-party rights. This license does not permit us to sell your content and terminates when you remove your content from the platform.

14.3 Prohibited Content

• Is unlawful, abusive, harassing, or discriminatory.

• Contains unauthorized copyrighted material, spam, malware, or pornography.

• Promotes harm or violates another person’s rights.

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these rules or that we deem inappropriate, and to suspend or terminate accounts responsible for repeated violations.

14.4 Responsibility for Harm

You are solely responsible for any harm resulting from the content you upload or share. We are not responsible for public display or misuse of your content by third parties.

14.5 Removal of Content

Users may request the removal of their own content at any time. We also reserve the right to edit, refuse to publish, or remove content that breaches these Terms or applicable laws.

15. Acceptance and Consent

By using the Hub, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, including any subsequent modifications. To ensure enforceability, we may require users to explicitly accept these Terms through a checkbox or similar method during registration.