Dec. 14, 2011 - The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved the use of USD275,000  to assist in financing a consultancy to conduct an assessment of the state of the water sector in all of the Bank’s borrowing member countries (BMCs), with the exception of Haiti. 

Given Haiti’s unique characteristics and size in relation to the other BMCs, a separate assessment of the water sector in Haiti will be undertaken in a future intervention.

CDB’s approach to water sector interventions has largely been based on individual country requests.   The objective of this technical assistance is to contribute to the Bank’s
development and adoption of a more proactive and focussed approach to supporting the water sector in its BMCs.  The proposed study will evaluate and rationalise the major development challenges currently facing the water sector in the Caribbean, in the context of the potential future role of CDB.

It is envisaged that the output of the technical assistance will provide critical information which will aid in the decision-making process when developing and or updating relevant CDB policies and strategies for enhancement of this sector in its BMCs.  CDB is of the view that the challenges facing the water sector in the Caribbean are significant, and are likely to be exacerbated by risks associated with climate change.