February 18, 2025 – BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – In a significant step towards enhancing
climate resilience and equipping Caribbean nations with critical data to withstand extreme weather
events, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in collaboration with the Caribbean Institute for
Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), has launched the Development of Rainfall Intensity-
Duration-Frequency (IDF) Curves project.

The initiative aims to support CDB’s 19 Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) in designing
infrastructure that is more resistant to flooding and other climate-related risks. The project
commenced with a virtual workshop on Friday, February 14, 2025, bringing together key
stakeholders, including government representatives and national meteorological and hydrological
services.

Rainfall IDF curves are essential for designing resilient infrastructure, such as drainage systems
and flood control mechanisms. These curves help estimate rainfall intensities for varying
probabilities of excess rainfall, making them critical tools for infrastructure planning. By integrating
climate change considerations, the project will enhance the planning, design, and implementation
of climate-resilient infrastructure across the region. The workshop provided an overview of the
project’s scope, objectives, and key deliverables, while also raising public awareness of its
significance. Stakeholders discussed their roles in ensuring effective implementation, fostering
collaboration, and securing long-term success.

Dr. David Farrell, Principal of the CIMH, emphasised the project’s significance, stating, “This
represents an important step forward in our collective efforts to mitigate the societal impacts of
current and future extreme weather events. By developing updated rainfall IDF curves that take
into account possible future climates, we will enhance the resilience of our infrastructure and
protect local communities from the increasing threats posed by climate change.”

Mr. Shawn Boyce, Chief Hydrologist at CIMH and the project’s Technical Lead, highlighted the
importance of stakeholder collaboration in achieving the project’s goals. “The ultimate success of
such a project relies heavily on active stakeholder engagement to ensure that the outputs of the
project are integrated into planning and design across the region. This regional kick-off workshop
marks the beginning of an inclusive process to ensure the resulting IDF curves are practical,
accessible, and widely adopted.”

CDB’s Division Chief (Ag), Economic Infrastructure Division, Mr. William Ashby, remarked
on the broader vision of the project. “The vulnerability of the Caribbean to hydrometeorological
hazards is profound. In particular, frequent and severe flood events continue to result in damage
to infrastructure and housing, loss of income sources, degradation of the natural environment,
and risk to life. The tools to be produced from this project, together with the necessary awareness
building, will greatly enhance the countries’ capacity to design effective drainage infrastructure
and flood protection systems, reducing the risk of social and economic losses,” said Mr Ashby.

The project, to be implemented over 18 months, will generate rainfall IDF curves for each BMC,
incorporating climate change projections to account for future shifts in rainfall intensity and
frequency. This data will help mitigate risks associated with extreme weather events and enhance
disaster preparedness. The kick-off workshop concluded with a roadmap outlining the next steps,
including comprehensive data collection efforts, ongoing stakeholder engagement, and public
awareness initiatives to promote the project’s importance.

By addressing vulnerabilities associated with extreme rainfall, this initiative seeks to strengthen
regional infrastructure, improve disaster preparedness, and safeguard lives and livelihoods. The
project represents a crucial investment in sustainable development and climate resilience, laying
the foundation for a more secure future across the Caribbean.

About the Caribbean Development Bank
The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution established in 1970 for the purpose of
contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of its Borrowing Member Countries
(BMCs). In addition to the 19 BMCs, CDB’s membership includes four regional, non-borrowing members
(Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela) and five non-regional, non-borrowing members (Canada, China, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom). CDB’s total assets as at December 31, 2023, stood at US$3.43 billion (bn). These include US$2.03 bn of Ordinary Capital Resources and US$1.40 bn of Special Funds Resources. The Bank is rated Aa1 Stable by Moody’s, AA+ Stable by Standard & Poor’s and AA+ Stable by Fitch Ratings. Read more at caribank.org.

Lyn-Marie Deane
Communications Specialist
Email: [email protected]

About the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology
The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) is a regional institution established to
support the development of meteorological, hydrological, marine, and climate services in the Caribbean. It serves as the technical arm of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) and provides research, training, and operational support to national meteorological and hydrological services across the region. CIMH is also recognized as a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Training Centre and Centre of Excellence, offering specialized education and capacity-building initiatives to enhance regional resilience to climate-related hazards.