Earth Today | CAF, Barbados ink $US700,000 agreement for water security

The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has approved a $US700,000 grant to support the reduction of water losses in Barbados’ drinking water system and modernise existing infrastructure.

“The non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement will support execution of technical studies, engineering designs, and tender documentation aimed at improving water delivery to meet the growing needs of the people of Barbados,” the entity said in a May 14 release.

The agreement was formally signed at the Barbados Water Authority’s Head Office in Bridgetown by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, CAF’s Regional Manager for the Caribbean and Country Representative for Barbados, Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy and Acting CEO of the Barbados Water Authority, Christopher Mapp.

The funding for this initiative comes from CAF’s Water Sector Pre-Investment Programme (PPSA), which supports governments with identifying, designing, and structuring infrastructure investments to strengthen water security and service delivery.

Investments in water security have consistently been a priority for the Government of Barbados. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Mottley, the country has championed initiatives that seek to ensure reliable access to clean water, reduce system losses, modernise outdated infrastructure and mitigate the effects of climate change.

“Recognising the vital importance of water security to Barbados, CAF has placed strategic emphasis on supporting this sector and has proudly partnered with the Government through a range of financing mechanisms to accelerate its national water security agenda,” the release noted.

PARTNERSHIP MODEL

Prime Minister Mottley, who has been a steadfast advocate for improving water access to all Barbadians, stressed the critical importance of tackling non-revenue water as a key component of Barbados’ climate resilience efforts. She thanked CAF for its ongoing support through both financing and technical assistance, noting the unique value of the bank’s partnership model.

“We have made it clear that the first place where the rubber hits the road for the climate crisis in Barbados is with respect to water,” she said in the release.

It is estimated that Barbados loses 42 per cent of the water that it produces.

Richards-Kennedy said CAF was proud to approve yet another grant that will serve to enhance water security in Barbados and directly impact the quality of lives of citizens.

“Water is one of the most essential resources. CAF has been a proud partner in supporting Barbados’ efforts to strengthen its water sector and improve service delivery to its citizens,” she said.

“This new technical cooperation is another demonstration of our commitment to helping the country build a more efficient and resilient water system, one that can meet the growing demands of today while, at the same time, preparing for the needs of tomorrow,” Richards-Kennedy added.

The signing of this agreement follows CAF’s high-level technical workshop on water and sanitation in the Caribbean where CAF presented the findings of a comprehensive regional water diagnostic study, which highlighted challenges in the region’s water supply as well as the need for innovative solutions.