By S.Browne. Updated 8:12 p.m., Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The way homes are built across the Caribbean is set to receive greater attention under a new regional initiative aimed at strengthening residential construction and improving disaster resilience.
The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has approved US$200,000 in grant funding to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to implement the 18-month Regional Resilient Residential Construction and Reconstruction Project.
The announcement was made on September 23, 2026, in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The initiative will build on CDEMA’s existing Safer Building Programme and focus on the people and institutions that shape the quality of residential construction, including builders, artisans, contractors and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The project will provide training in resilient construction techniques and support TVET institutions in integrating the Regional Code of Practice for Residential Construction into their programmes.
It will also promote greater awareness of resilient housing standards among homeowners, financial institutions, policymakers and other stakeholders, with the aim of encouraging wider adoption of safer construction practices.
The initiative comes as Caribbean countries continue to face risks from tropical cyclones, floods, landslides, earthquakes and other natural hazards, which can place homes, communities and economies at risk.
“Rebuilding after a disaster will always be necessary, but preparing before one strikes is where we can make the greatest difference. Resilience begins with the way residential infrastructure is designed and built,” said Regional Manager for the Caribbean and Representative in Barbados for CAF, Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy.
Richards-Kennedy said the initiative aligns with CAF’s commitment to investing not only in resilient infrastructure projects, but also in knowledge, technical capacity and practices that can strengthen disaster preparedness across the Caribbean.
CAF, she added, is partnering with CDEMA to provide technical assistance grant funding for the project.
CDEMA Executive Director Elizabeth Riley said decisions made before disasters occur are critical to protecting communities.
“Every disaster reminds us that resilience is not built in the aftermath of an event, but through the decisions we make before it occurs,” Riley said.
She said strengthening the way homes and communities are designed and built is a critical investment in protecting lives, livelihoods and development gains.
Riley added that CDEMA is working with CAF to strengthen resilient construction practices, build technical capacity and promote greater disaster preparedness across the Caribbean.
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