The World Bank has approved additional financing of $450 million for the Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project to support the reconstruction of resilient housing for people in Sindh province affected by the 2022 floods.
According to a World Bank press release, the new support will build on the original $500 million project, approved in December 2022, which supported the resilient, owner-led reconstruction of more than 410,000 basic housing units.
This additional financing aims to expand comprehensive housing reconstruction efforts in Sindh, covering at least 360,000 additional eligible beneficiaries. Additional resources will also support the provision of at least 30,000 safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
Naji Bin Hussein, Director of the World Bank Office in Pakistan, said: “Building resilience to natural disasters and climate shocks by strengthening physical infrastructure, especially for the most vulnerable groups, has been a key element of the World Bank’s support to flood-affected areas in the province.” The bond.”
“This additional funding will also strengthen efforts to provide and improve safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services that play a critical role in preventing water-borne diseases that contribute to high rates of stunting among children in the province.”
The new funding will ensure that vulnerable families, especially single women, widows, the elderly, people with disabilities and people living in extreme poverty, are prioritized in the reconstruction process.
The project will encourage their participation in the management of housing construction activities through community participation (establishing village reconstruction committees) and financial inclusion (providing bank accounts for female-headed families).
Furthermore, a grant of up to PKR 50,000 will be provided to eligible beneficiaries to support housing improvements, ensuring their homes are accessible and tailored to meet their specific disability needs.
“The additional funding aims to expand the benefits of the original project, particularly benefiting the most economically and climate-vulnerable members of the community and prioritizing citizen engagement and feedback,” said Kamran Akbar, project team lead.
“It will also train construction workers on multi-hazard housing reconstruction standards, set the trend for creating climate resilient homes, boost the local economy through the use of local materials and labour, and empower vulnerable populations by providing safe shelter and funding inclusion and community engagement activities.”
The Global Fund for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) supported the Indus Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project through post-disaster needs assessment, guidance on geo-supported management systems, technical assistance, and promoting resilient recovery and climate adaptation in Sindh.