Deadline: 19-May-2026
The Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (IRAF), led by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), is offering up to USD 500,000 to strengthen water infrastructure resilience in Jamaica’s Kingston Metropolitan Area. The programme supports technical assistance, disaster risk reduction, and investment planning for water systems, focusing on climate resilience, hazard assessment, and infrastructure modernization. The project duration is up to 24 months, with one award available.
Overview of the Water Infrastructure Resilience Call
This funding opportunity supports the resilience of water infrastructure systems in Jamaica, particularly in the Kingston Metropolitan Area. It is implemented under the Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (IRAF), a global initiative by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
The programme focuses on reducing climate and disaster risks affecting critical water systems through technical assessments, planning, and capacity building.
Purpose and Objectives
The initiative aims to:
- Strengthen resilience of water infrastructure systems
- Reduce disaster and climate-related risks
- Improve water security and resource management
- Support evidence-based infrastructure planning
- Enhance governance and institutional capacity
- Develop investment-ready infrastructure solutions
- Integrate gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI)
The focus is on long-term, risk-informed infrastructure development.
Geographic Focus
The programme specifically targets:
- Kingston Metropolitan Area, Jamaica
This region faces high exposure to climate and disaster risks affecting water systems.
Key Focus Areas
The project supports interventions in:
- Water infrastructure resilience and modernization
- Climate and disaster risk reduction
- Hazard and vulnerability assessments
- Infrastructure condition evaluation
- Identification of critical infrastructure systems
- Water supply and water security
- Wastewater management systems
- Drainage and irrigation infrastructure
- Saline water intrusion impacts
- Governance and infrastructure planning
- Climate adaptation and resilience design
All interventions must strengthen system-wide resilience.
Technical Scope of Work
Projects are expected to deliver:
- Multi-hazard risk and vulnerability analysis
- Infrastructure condition assessments
- Identification of critical infrastructure components
- Engineering and operational resilience measures
- Preliminary technical designs and concepts
- Cost estimates and investment case development
- Data sharing frameworks and collaboration systems
- Capacity building and institutional strengthening
Outputs should support long-term infrastructure planning and investment.
Programme Structure and Approach
The initiative is implemented through:
- Technical assistance and expert support
- Collaboration with government and technical agencies
- Pilot and scalable resilience interventions
- Knowledge transfer and capacity building
- Alignment with international frameworks
Relevant frameworks include:
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
- Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
- National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
Funding Details
Key funding information includes:
- Total budget: up to USD 500,000
- Number of awards: 1
- Project duration: up to 24 months
- Funding scope: technical assistance and resilience planning
The grant is designed for a single large-scale intervention.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include:
- UN organizations
- Non-UN organizations
- Academic institutions
Applicants must:
- Be legally registered in Jamaica or partner with a local registered entity
- Demonstrate experience in disaster-resilient infrastructure projects
- Show capacity to implement large-scale technical programmes
- For non-UN entities: meet required assessments completed within the last five years
Strong institutional capacity is essential.
Cross-Cutting Requirements
Projects must integrate:
- Gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI)
- Climate resilience considerations
- Sustainable infrastructure governance
- Risk-informed planning approaches
These principles must be embedded in all project activities.
Expected Outcomes
The programme expects to deliver:
- Improved resilience of water infrastructure systems
- Enhanced technical knowledge and institutional capacity
- Investment-ready infrastructure designs
- Strengthened data systems and collaboration networks
- Reduced vulnerability to climate and disaster risks
The focus is on practical, implementable resilience solutions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common application issues include:
- Lack of alignment with water infrastructure sector focus
- Insufficient disaster risk reduction component
- Weak technical assessment methodology
- Missing investment or implementation pathway
- Failure to integrate GEDSI principles
- Inadequate local partnership or registration requirements
- Overly general rather than engineering-focused proposals
Strong applications are technically rigorous and investment-oriented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is this funding programme?
It is a CDRI-led initiative supporting water infrastructure resilience in Jamaica.
Q2. How much funding is available?
Up to USD 500,000 for one project.
Q3. What is the project duration?
Up to 24 months.
Q4. Who can apply?
UN agencies, non-UN organizations, and academic institutions.
Q5. Where must the project be implemented?
Kingston Metropolitan Area, Jamaica.
Q6. What are the main focus areas?
Water systems resilience, disaster risk reduction, and infrastructure planning.
Q7. Is local partnership required?
Yes, if the applicant is not registered in Jamaica.
Conclusion
The CDRI Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund supports a major technical intervention to strengthen water infrastructure in Jamaica’s Kingston Metropolitan Area. By combining risk assessment, engineering design, and investment planning, the programme aims to build climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable water systems capable of withstanding future disasters and climate impacts.
For more information, visit CDRI.