World Bank okays $450 Million for Sindh Flood Reconstruction

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved additional financing of $450 million for the Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project to help rebuild resilient housing for people in Sindh province affected by the 2022 floods.

The new support will build on the original $500 million project, approved in December 2022, which supported the owner-operated and multi-hazard resilient reconstruction of more than 410,000 basic housing units. The additional financing aims to scale up comprehensive housing reconstruction efforts in Sindh province, covering at least 360,000 additional eligible beneficiaries. The additional resources will also support the provision of at least 30,000 safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities.

“Building resilience to natural disasters and climate shocks by strengthening physical infrastructure, especially for the most vulnerable, has been a key element of the World Bank’s support to flood-affected areas of Sindh province,” said Naji Benhassin, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. “This additional financing 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 the province’s high rates of child stunting.”

The new financing will ensure that vulnerable households, especially single or widowed women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and the extremely poor, are prioritized for reconstruction. The project will encourage their participation in the management of housing construction activities through community engagement (establishment of village reconstruction committees) and financial inclusion (provision of bank accounts for female-headed households). Additionally, eligible beneficiaries will be provided with grants of up to PKR 50,000 for housing improvements, ensuring that their homes are accessible and suitable to meet specific disability needs.

“The additional financing aims to enhance the benefits of the core project, especially benefiting the most economically and climatically vulnerable members of society and prioritizing citizen participation and feedback,” said Kamran Akbar, the project’s task team leader. “It will also train builders with standards for the reconstruction of multi-hazard housing, set the trend for building climate-resilient housing, boost the local economy through the use of local materials and labor, and provide safe shelter, financial inclusion, and empower vulnerable populations through community engagement activities.”

The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) supported the Sindh Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project with post-disaster needs assessments, guidance on geo-enabled management systems, and technical assistance to advance resilient recovery and climate adaptation in Sindh.