CAF grants US$200k for resilient housing standards

CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, has approved a US$200 000 (BDS$400 000) technical assistance grant for the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to improve home building standards across the region.

The Caribbean remains one of the world’s most vulnerable areas to natural hazards, frequently exposed to severe tropical cyclones, flooding, landslides and seismic activity. Historically, these disasters have inflicted catastrophic physical damage on residential areas, disrupting lives and causing severe economic setbacks for developing island nations.

By acting before disasters occur, the 18-month Regional Resilient Residential Construction and Reconstruction Project aims to strengthen the region’s housing stock, save lives, protect personal property and support faster economic and social recovery after extreme weather events.