Turning Wastewater into a Resource: Barbados' Climate Resilience Journey

Barbados, one of the world's most densely populated and water-scarce countries, faces severe climate change impacts, including rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and sea-level rise. These challenges exacerbate water shortages and threaten the island's potable water supply, requiring urgent action and sustainable water management practices. The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) and the Government of Barbados (GOB) faced financial constraints, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, making project development challenging without external support. This PPF Project facilitated the successful development of a full GCF funding proposal for The R's (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) for Climate Resilience Wastewater Systems in Barbados (3R-CReWS) addressing the challenges faced by Barbados.

At a glance

Number of Readiness Grants

Barbados has received the readiness support in 4 grants since 2017.

USD 0 m

Amount of Readiness financing

Cumulative funding amount of GCF Readiness Support to Barbados since 2017.

GCF Funding Proposal

1 GCF Funding proposal has been successfully developed with the support from this PPF grant

"The Project Preparation Grant for The R's (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) for Climate Resilience Wastewater Systems in Barbados (3R-CReWS) was critical to facilitating the capacity for the Barbados Water Authority to prepare the necessary documents and studies needed to prepare the final grant project proposal to the Green Climate Fund (GCF)." It allowed for the BWA to understand the GCF grant funding proposal requirements and to access the necessary expertise needed to conduct the required studies.”

Dr Bwalya John Mwansa

Technical Advisor, Barbados Water Authority

PPF Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Wastewater Systems

Comprehensive Studies and Analyses / Enhancing knowledge and building resilience

Technical Working Group / Reducing emissions and building capacity

Leveraging National Resources / Promoting reuse and facilitating aquifer

PPF supporting Barbados’s path to a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Future

Strategic Sustainability

Paradigm Shift

The design of the 3R-CReW project strategically included key activities to foster sustainability by addressing economic, institutional, social, and environmental dimensions. Leadership from key stakeholders in the Government of Barbados and civil society contributed significantly to the achievement of the PPF. The intended paradigm shift requires persons across the society to accept the practice of recycling and reusing reclaim water.

Only with the RPSP

Unlocking Climate Finance

PPF resources are needed to enable countries in the Caribbean to unlock climate financing.

Project Development

Project development is expensive, and the PPF is crucial for identifying bankable projects and opportunities for private sector involvement.

Knowledge Platform

The reports and lessons learned contribute to a knowledge platform for developing water projects in other Caribbean countries.