The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has signed a $700,000 grant agreement with the Government of Barbados aimed at reducing water losses and modernizing the island’s aging water infrastructure.
The non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement, signed yesterday at the Barbados Water Authority’s Head Office, will fund technical studies, engineering designs, and tender documentation to improve water delivery systems across the island.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who attended the signing ceremony alongside CAF’s Regional Manager Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy and Acting CEO of the Barbados Water Authority Christopher Mapp, highlighted the critical nature of addressing water security as part of the country’s climate resilience strategy.
“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,” Prime Minister Mottley said at the ceremony. She noted that Barbados currently loses an estimated 42 per cent of its produced water through its distribution system.
“Non-revenue water, the water we lose through leaks and other inefficiencies, remains a major challenge as a result of our aging infrastructure,” Mottley explained, adding that “this grant from CAF will support the Barbados Water Authority to better manage the network and help reduce those losses.”
The funding comes from CAF’s Water Sector Pre-Investment Program (PPSA), which helps governments identify, design, and structure infrastructure investments to strengthen water security and service delivery.
Dr Richards-Kennedy emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating: “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. This new technical cooperation is another demonstration of our commitment to helping the country build a more efficient and resilient water system.”
The agreement follows CAF’s recent High-Level Technical Workshop on Water and Sanitation in the Caribbean, where the bank presented findings from a Regional Water Diagnostic Study that identified challenges in the region’s water supply systems.
This grant represents the latest in CAF’s ongoing support for Barbados’ water sector. The bank previously financed the $10 million Barbados Water Rehabilitation Project, now 90 per cent complete, which aims to upgrade existing infrastructure including pipelines, reservoirs, and pump stations. When finished, the project is expected to improve water supply for more than 80,000 residents.
CAF has also supported the development of a long-term master plan to guide Barbados’ water and sanitation service provision over the next three decades.