As climate change impacts worsen, causing irreparable damage to buildings, roads and bridges, nations like Guyana face the urgent need to ramp up investments in infrastructure that can withstand these growing threats.
For Caribbean nations, where governments must manage limited budgets to meet other national needs, identifying cost-effective solutions has become increasingly essential.
India, the world’s fourth-largest economy, is stepping up to address this challenge. Having faced an increase in heatwaves, droughts and flooding, India is aiding countries through its Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Established in 2019, the CDRI strives to enhance infrastructure resilience against climate and disaster risks.
With 58 member countries and 12 partnering organisations, CDRI unites governments, international bodies and businesses to exchange knowledge, promote research and encourage investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure.
During a familiarisation visit on August 19 to CDRI’s Delhi headquarters, editors and journalists from the Caribbean and Latin America were provided with an overview of the organisation’s work across the world. The visit was facilitated by India’s Ministry of External Affairs’ External Publicity & Public Diplomacy Division.
CDRI’s Director General, Amith Prothi, noted that while the organisation does not provide direct funding, it offers essential expertise for effective project implementation. “Think of us as the chilli in the soup. We don’t make the soup, but we provide an ingredient, the innovation that significantly enhances your project,” Prothi remarked.
Prothi underscored that resilient infrastructure should not be downplayed or viewed merely as another climate issue. In its April 2026 report, developed with India’s Ministry of Finance, CDRI highlighted that climate and disaster risks present significant fiscal challenges, with global infrastructure losses estimated at US$845 billion annually. Actual losses could be even greater.
At the country level, the scenarios are dire. In Brazil, Prothi noted that losses from natural disasters affecting non-resilient infrastructure are estimated at US$13 billion. In Guyana, where flooding consistently threatens agriculture, annual losses are projected at US$91.5 million.
CDRI has not only assisted Guyana in quantifying its annual losses but has also collaborated with local authorities on a study underscoring the urgent need to modernise the nation’s drainage and irrigation systems. They also identified areas particularly susceptible to escalating climate impacts.
Building on this analysis, CDRI supported Guyana in creating a national strategy that utilises nature-based solutions to mitigate coastal flood risks. The strategy outlines two nature-based interventions aimed at addressing risks along 420 kilometres of coastline across five regions, designed to complement traditional infrastructure while delivering added benefits to ecosystems and communities. Ultimately, the initiative aims to protect over 675,000 residents. The next steps for Guyana now involve securing funding and executing the strategy.