The Qatar Foundation for Development (QFFD) announced this weekend the signing of a grant for 4.5 million dollars with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), intended for energy recovery in the Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana.
According to the QFFD, the support will contribute to the recovery of essential public services in these territories, affected by Hurricane Rafael last 2024.
Among these services they mentioned health centers, educational institutions and food production systems, which should benefit more than 2.2 million people.
The signing ceremony took place within the framework of the Doha 2025 Forum and was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Development Fund.
وقّع صندوق قطر للتنمية اتفاقية منحة بقيمة 4.5 مليون دولار أمريكي مع برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي، بهدف إعادة توفير خدمات الطاقة في مقاطعات أرتيميسا وميابيكوي وهافانا في بشدة جرّاء الأعاصير. وسيُسهم هذا الدعم في استعادة الخدمات العامة الأساسية، بما في ذلك المرافق… pic.twitter.com/sMDwufGs8M
— Qatar Fund For Development صندوق قطر للتنمية (@qatar_fund) December 6, 2025
The agreement was formalized by Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, director general of the QFFD, and Alexander De Croo, administrator of the UNDP. The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, was also present.
From Havana, the UNDP office thanked the Qatari support and highlighted that the collaboration will facilitate access to energy for basic activities of the population affected by the meteorological attacks.
We are grateful to work with @qatar_fund to facilitate access to energy for basic activities for the Cuban population affected by hurricanes.
Thanks to the Government of Qatar for their support to @UNDP and alliance for the SDGs. https://t.co/PYL85YkGAt
— UNDP Cuba (@PNUDCuba) December 7, 2025
Cuba and a prolonged energy crisis
The announcement comes in a especially critical context for Cuba. The last hurricane to affect the island in the recent hurricane season passed through the east of the country, where the humanitarian situation continues to be severe.
In the midst of a depressed electrical system, last Wednesday western Cuba once again experienced another general blackout that affected several provinces, including Havana.
According to the Electrical Union, it was a “partial outage”, which is added to other five general blackouts in a period of one yearwhich have left the entire island without electricity.
