Global Affairs Canada and UNOPS have signed an agreement to establish the Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility, a new Caribbean regional initiative designed to help governments deliver resilient infrastructure investments more effectively.
Funded by the Government of Canada and hosted by UNOPS, RIISE is a groundbreaking regional mechanism that will initially support Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Anchored by a Secretariat based in Barbados, RIISE combines regional leadership with UNOPS global expertise and operational support — operating in line with UN values and administrative standards. The Secretariat will coordinate requests from participating governments and mobilise specialised expertise to help overcome infrastructure implementation challenges.
“Canada is proud to support RIISE as part of our longstanding commitment to strengthening climate resilience across the Caribbean. By helping governments deliver resilient infrastructure more effectively, build local capacity and promote specialised expertise across the region, RIISE will generate lasting benefits for Caribbean communities while deepening the strong ties between Canada and the region,” said Brenda Wills, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
Across the Caribbean, governments are advancing ambitious infrastructure and climate-resilience investments, yet many projects face implementation bottlenecks. Created to respond to government demand, RIISE provides targeted technical assistance to strengthen implementation capacity and accelerate project delivery.
“Caribbean governments have clear priorities and an ambitious vision for resilient and sustainable development. RIISE will provide timely access to the specialised expertise they need to overcome implementation challenges and turn those priorities into tangible results for communities. At the same time, it will strengthen national capacities and foster greater regional collaboration,” explained Giuseppe Mancinelli, UNOPS Director for Barbados and Caribbean Coordinator.
Support may include short-term technical advisory services, the temporary deployment of specialists, and the exchange of practical knowledge and experience across countries. Assistance will be tailored to the needs of each government and assignment.
RIISE will complement financing and project-preparation mechanisms already operating in the Caribbean by concentrating on the implementation phase, helping governments translate approved investments and national priorities into tangible results for communities.
Participating governments facing implementation challenges with infrastructure projects are encouraged to engage with the RIISE team early, as potential opportunities for initial support are explored.
The facility will be officially launched on 14 September 2026 on the sidelines of the Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF) in Miami.
UNOPS
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