The Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (CARes) Project

With over 90% of Guyana’s population and most agricultural activity concentrated along the low-lying coast, the country faces severe vulnerability to flooding and sea-level rise. The Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (CARes) Project aims to address this challenge through a US$45 million initiative designed under the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF). Managed by the Ministry of Agriculture via the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), in partnership with the World Bank, the project marks a major investment in Guyana’s climate resilience and long-term coastal protection.

Building Resilience Where It Matters Most

The CARes Project targets the coastal plain regions—mainly Regions 3, 4, 5, and 6—where flooding jeopardizes lives, livelihoods, and food security. By implementing infrastructure upgrades, institutional capacity building, and climate-smart planning, the project strengthens national flood risk management and supports the goals of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

At its core, CARes aim to rehabilitate and upgrade key drainage and irrigation infrastructure, including sluices (kokers), outfalls, and pumps—vital systems that protect thousands of households and farmlands from coastal flooding. These investments are designed to reduce immediate flood risks while modernizing the drainage network to be more resilient to the increasing impacts of climate change.

Objectives

• Reduce flood risk in the country’s most vulnerable coastal regions.
• Repair and replace aging or damaged sluices, and outfalls to upgrade essential infrastructure.
• Improve climate resilience to support sustainable agriculture, food security, and urban development.
• Strengthen NDIA’s technical and institutional capacity to effectively manage, maintain, and monitor drainage and flood management systems.
• Promote inclusive economic and social development through improved protection and reliable infrastructure.

Implementation and Key Components

As the implementing agency, the NDIA leads execution through a dedicated Project Implementation Unit (PIU), with technical guidance and financial oversight from the World Bank. The project is structured around three main components:

1. Infrastructure Upgrades: Repairing or replacing over 45 sluices and drainage structures, reinforcing pumps and outfalls, and providing maintenance support to enhance the performance and durability of coastal defense systems.

2. Institutional Strengthening and Flood Management: Improving NDIA’s asset management and flood risk systems, developing technical standards and guidelines for resilient infrastructure, and providing training for engineers, operators, and planners in modern drainage and flood management practices.

3. Project Management and Coordination: Establishing strong governance, environmental and social safeguards, procurement systems, and monitoring frameworks to ensure effective and transparent project delivery.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased protection for lives, livelihoods, and farmland, reducing the frequency and impact of flood-related losses.
• Strengthened national food security through dependable drainage and irrigation systems that safeguard agricultural productivity.
• Improved coordination among agencies responsible for flood and disaster risk management.
• Operational excellence within NDIA through modernized asset management and maintenance planning.
• Climate-smart technical standards and planning frameworks guiding future resilient infrastructure investments.

Transformative Impact

By directly benefiting an estimated 320,000 people, including safeguarding more than 1,200 square kilometers of farmland and urban areas, CARes is one of the most substantial flood resilience initiatives in Guyana’s history. Its impact goes beyond immediate infrastructure improvements—it enhances governance, institutional knowledge, and community confidence in the nation’s ability to adapt to climate change.

In the long term, the CARes Project will serve as a model for coastal climate resilience, demonstrating how strategic investment, sound engineering, and community-focused planning can protect lives and livelihoods. By integrating adaptation into national development, the project helps ensure a more secure and sustainable future—keeping Guyana’s coastal regions viable, productive, and resilient for future generations.