Global Affairs Canada and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have signed an agreement to establish the Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility.
This new regional initiative is designed to help governments in the Eastern Caribbean deliver resilient infrastructure investments more effectively. Funded by the Government of Canada and hosted by UNOPS, the facility will be anchored by a Secretariat based in Barbados.
Initially, the RIISE Facility will provide specialized implementation support to Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The program aims to combine regional leadership with global expertise and operational support from UNOPS, operating under United Nations values and administrative standards.
The Secretariat will coordinate requests from these participating governments and mobilize specialized expertise to overcome challenges that often stall infrastructure projects.
Canada’s High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Brenda Wills, emphasized that the initiative is part of a long-standing commitment to strengthening climate resilience in the region. According to Wills, the facility will help governments deliver infrastructure more effectively while building local capacity and deepening ties between Canada and the Caribbean.
While many Caribbean governments have ambitious visions for sustainable development, project implementation often faces significant bottlenecks. RIISE was created specifically to respond to this demand, providing targeted technical assistance to strengthen capacity and accelerate delivery.
The support provided may include short-term technical advisory services, the temporary deployment of specialized personnel, and the exchange of practical knowledge and experience across the region.
Giuseppe Mancinelli, the UNOPS Director for Barbados and Caribbean Coordinator, noted that the facility will provide timely access to the expertise needed to turn government priorities into tangible results for communities. He further explained that the initiative will foster greater regional collaboration while strengthening national capacities.
The facility is intended to complement existing financing and project-preparation mechanisms in the Caribbean by concentrating specifically on the implementation phase of infrastructure projects. Governments currently facing implementation hurdles are encouraged to engage with the RIISE team early to explore potential opportunities for support.
The official launch of the RIISE Facility is scheduled for September 14, 2026. The event will take place on the sidelines of the Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF) in Miami. Global Affairs Canada and UNOPS will continue to work together through this facility to help the region overcome infrastructure implementation challenges and promote sustainable development
