Background
St. Kitts and Nevis, a small island nation in the Caribbean, is already experiencing the effects of climate change, particularly in critical sectors like agriculture, tourism, health, and water resources. The country relies heavily on rainfall for its water supply, which is collected through groundwater and surface sources. However, shifting rainfall patterns, rising sea levels, and more frequent droughts are threatening the availability and quality of freshwater. Coastal areas are at risk of flooding and saltwater intrusion, while pollution in lower watershed areas adds further pressure to limited water supplies.
Despite the efforts of national water departments to manage resources and raise public awareness, challenges persist due to limited funding, aging infrastructure, and growing demand from expanding economic sectors. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes and prolonged droughts further stress the water system. Without stronger investment in climate resilience, improved water storage, and better management, St. Kitts and Nevis remains highly vulnerable to the ongoing and future impacts of climate change.
CTCN Support
CTCN’s Technical Assistance aims to support the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis by strengthening the capacity of the Saint Kitts Water Services Department (WSD) and the Nevis Water Department (NWD) in managing a GIS-based monitoring and control system. This system will enhance efforts to reduce water loss and detect leaks more effectively. As a small island nation in the northern Lesser Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis is already facing significant impacts from climate change, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture, water, tourism, and health. This assistance is a critical step in building resilience, especially for the most vulnerable communities, by helping safeguard the country's limited and increasingly threatened freshwater resources.
Expected Outcome
The objective of this Technical Assistance (TA) is to strengthen the overall Non-Revenue Water (NRW) management capacity of the Water Services Department (WSD) in St. Kitts and the Nevis Water Department (NWD) by implementing a structured and systematic approach. Currently, both departments’ data models and associated management processes require a comprehensive review and redesign. The new GIS data model to be developed must support automated and systematic data analysis and should align with internationally recommended best practices.
Key expected outputs of the TA include effective project management, the development of a robust GIS data structure and operational procedures, testing of District Metered Areas (DMA) for improved monitoring, and the facilitation of a regional South-South knowledge exchange event to share lessons and strengthen regional collaboration.
Seeking Experts
The CTCN invites qualified experts and firms to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) to participate in this initiative. For further information on this opportunity, visit the UN Global Market Place (UNGM) or the UN website.
If you are not yet a member of the CTCN Network, you can apply to join here.
