GEF CReW+ Project

Implementing integrated water and wastewater solutions for a clean and healthy Caribbean Sea.

An integrated approach to water and wastewater management in the Wider Caribbean Region using innovative solutions and sustainable financing mechanisms.

The GEF CReW+ is a partnership project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that is being co-implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 18 countries of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR).

The concept was approved in November 2017 for an amount of US$14,943,938 by the GEF Trust Fund and with a time frame of 3 years (2020-2022).

Innovative Project

This project builds upon its previous successful phase “The Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (CReW)” project (2011-2017). CReW+ is being executed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Secretariat of the Cartagena Convention (CAR/RCU) on behalf of the IDB and UNEP, respectively. The executing agencies are responsible for achieving its goals and outcomes, within the respective Technical Cooperation Agreements, and consistent with GEF, IDB and UNEP's policies and procedures.

Go to GEF CReW legacy website

The 18 participating countries in GEF CReW+

This countries vary in size from large, continental countries to small island states, with significantly different political, linguistic and cultural contexts. The technical specialists from the implementing and executing agencies are coordinating with the GEF CReW+ focal points to support implementation of project activities.

Project Objectives

Promote the development of strategies, policies, laws, criteria, guidelines and regulations concerning water resources and wastewater management at the institutional level.
Identify sustainable financial mechanisms, such as payment for ecosystem services, blended finance, and revolving funds.
Improve access to sustainable WASH services through the design and construction of climate resilient wastewater treatment plants and sanitary facilities.

GEF CReW+ applies the principles of inclusiveness and equality. The project focuses on active participatory community involvement in the planning and implementation processes. This includes local and indigenous communities, women and youth. Gender mainstreaming is also considered in the design, implementation, and monitoring of all activities.

The project will establish an integrated regional knowledge management database for all 18 countries to improve access to an elaborated information exchange mechanism, including valuable practical experiences and lessons learned concerning wastewater infrastructure, reuse, watershed protection and financing tools at the regional and national levels.

Expected Outcomes

By valuing water as a scarce resource, the concept of Integrated Water and Wastewater Management (IWWM) applied in GEF CReW+ is based on the four R´s of the circular economy approach: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. The project views wastewater not as waste, but as a valuable resource with potential for reuse in agriculture, industry, and other sectors. In this way, GEF CReW+ contributes directly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6, 11, 13, 14 and 15.

Work Plan

In the course of GEF CReW+, adjustments to the legislative, policy and regulatory frameworks for IWRM will be achieved in a minimum of nine countries. The application of the concept of circular economy will lead to better management of the life cycle of water, which will translate into greater efficiency in its supply. The foregoing guarantees the protection of resources, as well as an adequate treatment of wastewater and its reuse.

Through training in local communities, GEF CReW+ will enable the sustainable implementation and maintenance of technical and financial solutions, as well as a better understanding of their benefits. These measures will not only contribute to a considerable improvement in the health situation of rural and peri-urban communities, but will also strengthen their resilience to the effects of droughts and, more generally, to the consequences of climate change and climate variability in the water sector.

The project´s emphasis on establishing an integrated regional knowledge management system will improve the access to an elaborate information sharing mechanism, including valuable practical experiences and lessons learned, as well as an enhanced capacity to transfer and replicate successful actions with GEF and its partners at local, national and regional level.

GEF CReW+ is a collaborative project approved by the Global Environment Facility (GEF); it is co-implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

GEF CReW+ is being executed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Organization of American States (OAS) on behalf of IDB, and by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat on behalf of UNEP.