A new comprehensive study conducted by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean has shed light on the water security challenges confronting Dominica, and the Eastern Caribbean. The research highlights critical gaps in water access, efficiency, and infrastructure across the region. It emphasizes the urgent need for immediate investment in innovative solutions to address the impact of climate change and the growing resource demands from expanding industries, which are vital for economic growth.
To formulate a strategic roadmap to tackle these challenges, CAF convened a High-Level Technical Workshop on Water and Sanitation in the Caribbean in Bridgetown, Barbados, on April 8-9, 2025. The workshop gathered CEOs, General Managers, and senior officials from national water and sanitation authorities, alongside representatives from various multilateral development institutions. This collaborative effort aimed to discuss the study’s findings and explore actionable solutions for the pressing water security issues affecting the region. Titled “Water and Sanitation in the Caribbean: Working Together to Overcome Challenges and Chart a More Resilient and Sustainable Sector,” the workshop facilitated knowledge exchange, examined opportunities for innovative financing solutions, and outlined practical steps to tackle water scarcity, infrastructure deficits, and enhance climate resilience in the Caribbean’s water and sanitation management sector.
In addition to senior officials from English-speaking Caribbean nations, CAF invited leaders and sector specialists from prominent multilateral development agencies, such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), World Bank, and the European Union (EU), urging them to unite in addressing one of the region’s most urgent challenges. The findings from CAF’s Regional Water Diagnostic Study were derived from data on the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The prevalence of similar challenges across these nations underscores the need for a regional approach to achieving water security.
Key findings from the report reveal several alarming trends:
– Numerous Caribbean nations experience significant water scarcity, while some face absolute water scarcity, highlighting a pressing need for alternative water sources.
– Despite existing water shortages, many countries are losing nearly half of their available water due to outdated infrastructure and inefficiencies.
– The region’s sewerage infrastructure remains severely underdeveloped, with an average coverage of just 11%. Many nations lack adequate wastewater treatment, resulting in untreated sewage being discharged into the ocean.
– The study identifies stormwater drainage as an escalating regional concern, exacerbated by the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. It recommends that traditional grey infrastructure be complemented with green and nature-based solutions to prevent further damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods.
CAF’s Regional Diagnostic Study calls for policy reforms, technological advancements, and essential financial investments to enhance the region’s capacity to access water for its myriad needs. It advocates for prioritizing solutions such as desalination, rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse, and automated water management systems.
Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, CAF’s Regional Manager for the Caribbean and Country Representative in Barbados, articulated the bank’s commitment to providing flexible and innovative solutions to address the Caribbean’s water and sanitation challenges.“At CAF, we understand the widespread impact of these challenges across the society and the ripple effects across businesses and the economy. To us, issues such as water security, are not abstract technical issues, they are personal – they affect the ability of individuals to meet their basic needs and live life with dignity. Tackling water scarcity requires that we come together and act with a sense of urgency. CAF is about providing innovative solutions, working always in an agile and flexible manner to help the region meet its development priorities,” she stated.
Senator Dr. the Hon. Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office of Barbados, emphasized the financing challenge in addressing water security in the region and the need for innovative financing models. She expressed gratitude to CAF for its responsiveness to the specific needs of its shareholder countries. “We need good partners to be able to meet that financing challenge. To address the challenges we face with water insecurity, we need partners that offer tailored solutions. We need partners that allow us to imbue a sense of ownership in terms of forging the solutions that are going to be necessary. We need partners that offer simple ways and modalities of allowing us to work together.”
Franz Rojas, Director of Water and Sanitation at CAF, highlighted the urgent need for increased investments to build capacity and develop bold solutions to combat water scarcity and climate change.“CAF brings decades of experience supporting countries across Latin America and the Caribbean in building sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient systems. This initial diagnostic is just the beginning as we plan to deepen this analysis. Aligned with CAF’s Water Security Strategy and our recent commitment at the UN Water Conference in New York to provide financing of up to USD 4 billion, we are truly committed to collaborating closely with the Caribbean to build water security.”
The workshop attracted senior officials from water management agencies and utilities representing 12 CARICOM member countries. The complete study is set to be published on CAF’s website, paving the way for informed discussions and actions aimed at enhancing water security across the region.
