The Caribbean region’s leading public health body and the world’s largest humanitarian network have formalized a new five-year collaborative agreement to confront growing interconnected health and climate challenges across the Caribbean. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) signed the renewed memorandum of understanding (MOU) on July 2, 2026, establishing a structured framework for expanded joint action that builds on years of prior cooperation between the two organizations.
This renewed partnership merges CARPHA’s specialized regional public health technical expertise with IFRC’s unparalleled on-the-ground community network and decades of humanitarian response experience to tackle some of the Caribbean’s most urgent public health threats. The agreement outlines a clear set of priority focus areas, ranging from the prevention and management of vector-borne and non-communicable diseases — including mental health support — to strengthening food and nutrition security, and boosting community-level resilience to climate change, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks.
Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, emphasized that the combined strengths of the two organizations will transform regional public health outcomes for member states. “This collaboration with the IFRC combines CARPHA’s regional public health expertise with the extensive community reach and humanitarian experience of the Red Cross Red Crescent network,” Indar explained. “Together, we will strengthen community resilience, enhance preparedness for health emergencies, and support sustainable, people-centred approaches to health across our Member States.”
Beyond direct program implementation, the MOU creates structured pathways for the exchange of technical knowledge, public health data, evidence-based tools, and best practices in community-centered health work. It also formalizes joint training opportunities and capacity-building initiatives, including professional development programs and internships for emerging young public health professionals across the region. CARPHA officials note that this exchange of resources and expertise will strengthen the region’s ability to rapidly respond to health emergencies while supporting the development of data-backed public health programs that deliver real impact.
Necephor Mghendi, Head of the IFRC Country Cluster Delegation for the Dutch and English-speaking Caribbean, highlighted that rising complexity of regional challenges demands cross-organizational collaboration that connects top-level technical expertise to local communities. “The challenges facing the Caribbean are increasingly complex and interconnected, requiring partnerships that bridge regional expertise and community action,” Mghendi said. “This collaboration is about shared impact. Through its network of National Societies and volunteers, the IFRC brings the vital last-mile connection that enables information, services, and support to reach the people who need them most, where they need them and when they need them. Together with CARPHA, we can help ensure that communities across the region are better informed, better connected, and better equipped to address current and emerging health challenges.”
The two organizations will coordinate closely on resource mobilization, joint monitoring and evaluation of all initiatives to guarantee long-term effectiveness and measurable impact. The renewed partnership comes at a critical juncture for Caribbean nations, which are facing escalating risks from climate-fueled natural disasters, rising rates of chronic non-communicable diseases, persistent food insecurity, and growing threats from vector-borne disease outbreaks. Both organizations reaffirmed their shared commitment to empowering local communities, strengthening domestic public health capacity, and advancing sustainable solutions that will build a healthier, safer, and more resilient Caribbean for all residents.