BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) said Friday it has conducted a comprehensive Country Project Portfolio Review of Barbados.
The exercise, which brought together senior government officials, CDB representatives, and key project stakeholders, aimed to assess the status of bank-funded projects, identify opportunities to strengthen implementation, and ensure continued alignment with Barbados’ national development agenda.
“The review focused on key development priorities such as climate-resilient infrastructure, private sector growth, and social development. Participants also discussed challenges and lessons learned from critical projects in areas that include flood mitigation, water supply system upgrades, and public sector capacity-building initiatives being supported by CDB.”
The CDB said that it also featured a presentation on its flagship poverty reduction programme, the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) of which Barbados is a beneficiary, with access to US$3.17 million in grant funding towards improvements in basic economic and social infrastructure and services.
“I am happy to engage in this Country Portfolio Review for Barbados, particularly because we have gone through a period of significant adjustment and reform that has led us to a point where we can see a more stable economy moving forward,” said Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, Ryan Straughn.
“I encourage all of us to see these interventions not just as infrastructure projects, but as actions that directly improve people’s lives,” he added.
CDB’s acting Vice President for Finance and Corporate Services, Ian Durant, underscored the importance of the review in alignment with Barbados’ overall national development.
“We are streamlining our operations for greater agility, increased scale, accelerated funding deployment, and greater development impact, particularly for disaster risk management.”
The CDB said that this focus is particularly relevant for Barbados, where growing climate vulnerabilities highlight the need for timely, effective risk management. CDB’s ongoing investments support the country’s long-term development by strengthening economic foundations and building social and environmental resilience for a more inclusive and climate-smart future.
The Country Project Portfolio Review of Barbados formed part of CDB’s broader effort to ensure its development assistance remains responsive, results-oriented, and aligned with the priorities of its Borrowing Member Countries (BMC).
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