World Bank approves $1.69 billion financing for flood-hit Sindh

The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank approved funding for five projects totaling $1.692 billion on Tuesday in order to support those residing in Sindh, Pakistan’s flood-affected areas.

According to Geo, out of the five initiatives, three support rehabilitation, home reconstruction, and the restoration of crop production for vulnerable populations, according to a statement released by the World Bank. Two of the three projects have a combined value of $500 million, while the third is worth $292 million.

“Sindh was the province worst affected by the 2022 floods. There were huge damages to the housing, health, and agriculture sectors and people lost their livelihoods. Beyond the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged houses and infrastructure, our engagement in the flood response effort is an opportunity to strengthen resilience, and reform institutions and governance structures”, said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

The “Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project,” which will cost $500 million, will prioritize creating short-term livelihood opportunities and enhancing the province’s ability to respond to emergencies.

“The project will help restore and improve critical irrigation and flood protection infrastructure, water supply schemes, roads, and related infrastructure. At least 2 million people—approximately 50 per cent of whom are women—in the most flood-affected districts will benefit from the restoration and the resilient reconstruction of critical infrastructure”.

About 100,000 households will get short-term financial support through a community-level cash-for-work program.

“The $500 million Sindh Floods Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project will support owner-driven and multi-hazard resilient reconstruction of core housing units. A housing subsidy will provide reconstruction and restoration grants for 350,000 housing units (almost 20 per cent of the total housing rehabilitation needs for Sindh). Cash grants will be provided for houses with structural damage to partially finance reconstruction or restoration. “

To increase access to water and sanitation, twin pit latrines and simple rainwater collection systems will also be provided.

Furthermore, the $292 million approved for the “Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project” will enhance integrated water resource management, boost agricultural water productivity, and enable farmers who were impacted by the flood to resume crop production.

“More than 385,000 households (approximately 1.9 million people) are expected to benefit from the project. As an immediate response to the floods, the project will provide cash transfers to approximately 300,000 flood-affected farming households to help restore crop production through the purchase of seeds, fertilizer, and other critical inputs. In the medium term around 70,000 households will benefit from improved irrigation services and agricultural support that will help boost farming income. An estimated 14,000 households will receive direct financial benefits from the pilot smart subsidy schemes targeting small- and medium-sized farmers,” the WB said.

By improving access to and use of mother and child health services, the Sindh Strengthening Social Protection Delivery System Project ($200 million) will also boost the province’s social protection delivery system. As part of the project, the Federal National Database Registration Authority will be aligned and connected, and conditional cash transfers (CCTs) will be given to 1.3 million mothers and their kids to support better maternal and child health outcomes, particularly in the wake of service disruption caused by the floods.

The CCTs will be made available to Sindh’s bottom 15 districts, selected depending on the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), and will cover 65 per cent of the province’s total flood-affected areas. They are intended to help lessen the effects of the floods, particularly food insecurity, and to maintain access to maternal and child health services open.

The Sindh Integrated Health and Population Project have been granted $200 million by the lender. The project will assist in raising the standard and uptake of fundamental nutrition, and maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health care. Additionally, it will aid in the repair and reconstruction of health infrastructure that was harmed during the floods and impeded the provision of these services.

The initiative would enhance the population’s access to high-quality healthcare services in Sindh’s flood-affected settlements as well as in distant and peri-urban areas, particularly for women, girls, and children.

“The World Bank will continue to support the Government and people of Pakistan to recover from the recent flood emergency and strengthen long-term resilience to such climate-related shocks,” the statement concluded.