GGGI Partners with Ireland to Advance Resilient Green Affordable Housing in the Eastern Caribbean

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Government of Ireland (Irish Aid) have formalized a strategic partnership, enhancing access to resilient, green, and affordable housing in Eastern Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Focused on three islands, the €600,000 (euros) partnership addresses the consistent challenges of climate change resilience and affordable housing in the region.

This partnership builds on the ongoing Green Affordable Housing initiative in Saint Lucia that GGGI is supporting, with the key goal of enhancing the capacity and knowledge base of stakeholders in the three countries, improving designs, construction, and financing mechanisms for resilient green affordable homes. To ensure broad stakeholder engagement and sustainability, GGGI has developed a structured governance and program management framework that includes country-level advisory committees and a centralized project management unit.

“This partnership with Ireland demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in addressing critical challenges in the Eastern Caribbean,” said Daniel Muñoz-Smith, Caribbean Representative, GGGI. “By focusing on resilient green affordable housing, the aim is to provide solutions that enhance community well-being, reduce risks to climate change, and promote sustainable development.”

“Ireland is excited to support this initiative, which aligns with our commitment to expanding our climate finance, and specifically to support SIDS in their adaptation efforts,” said Niall Tierney, Director of Global Programmes, Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland. “By partnering with GGGI, we are helping vulnerable communities in several Eastern Caribbean islands build a stronger, more sustainable future.”

This collaboration envisions a transformative shift in the current Eastern Caribbean housing landscape, mobilizing at least USD $75 million to develop resilient green affordable homes. It seeks to address the lack of affordable and sustainable housing that is prone to climate risks such as hurricanes and rising sea-levels. The goal is to provide durable housing solutions incorporating renewable energy, water-saving, and air quality solutions, shared resources, and sustainable materials.

The opportunity to create public-private partnerships and introduce scalable financing models, the project will not only safeguard communities from climate impacts but also drive innovation in sustainable construction, ensuring long-term affordability and resilience for those who need it most.

This new collaboration in the Caribbean builds on the ongoing partnership between GGGI and Ireland in the Pacific.

About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 49 Member States and 28 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 51 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI's work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.