Islamabad: South Asia, the fastest-growing region globally, faces significant risks from climate change, threatening the livelihoods of its nearly 2 billion inhabitants. The region’s vulnerability is highlighted by historic events such as the 2022 floods in Pakistan’s Sindh Province and the devastating landslides and floods, including the 2013 Kedarnath floods, in India’s Uttarakhand. These disasters can undo years of development progress and exacerbate poverty, with global average annual losses from weather-related disasters in cities alone reaching $415 billion.
According to World Bank, efforts are underway to help South Asian countries embrace a proactive stance in managing disaster and climate risks. Initiatives aim to build resilient infrastructure and systems while engaging local communities to ensure inclusive development, particularly for women and disadvantaged groups who are often more affected by disasters. In Sindh and Uttarakhand, the World Bank has supported local government efforts in rebuilding resilient homes and infrastructure, ensuring women’s inclusion in sustainable rebuilding processes.
The World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) emphasize a “Build Better Before” strategy, which focuses on creating resilient infrastructure and strengthening institutional capacities to handle climate-induced shocks proactively. In Sindh, the Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project targets the most vulnerable households by providing housing reconstruction grants, enabling them to choose materials and methods for building multi-hazard resilient homes.
Utilizing technology, the Sindh project employs a geo-enabled Management Information System to assess eligibility and disburse grants, benefiting over 2 million people. The Kobo Toolbox facilitates data collection and monitoring, supporting development planning and housing reconstruction at the village level.
In Uttarakhand, the World Bank and GFDRR’s proactive disaster relief efforts through the Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project (UDRP) since 2014 have focused on building resilience, restoring connectivity, and enhancing risk response capabilities. The project has set benchmarks in sustainable building practices and introduced innovative construction techniques, such as prefabricated modular steel bridge designs, to withstand future disasters.
The UDRP emphasizes inclusion, empowering women through joint bank accounts and land ownership, ensuring they can access financial services and secure socioeconomic stability. Women actively participated in the reconstruction process, contributing to design and rebuilding efforts.
The Sindh project also achieved a remarkable pace in post-disaster reconstruction, benefiting 3 million people through infrastructure rebuilding and repair. Enhanced flood protection measures, including the rehabilitation of embankments and roads, provided last-mile connectivity and access to markets and services for millions.
The Sindh Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project strengthened human capital by training masons in multi-hazard-resilient construction, restoring community infrastructure, and successfully completing over 150,000 houses with cash grant support. An anticipated 410,000 multi-hazard houses are expected to be reconstructed by 2027.
In Uttarakhand, the recovery project benefited over 747,000 people by constructing resilient houses, roads, public buildings, and bridges. It marked a shift towards proactive disaster risk management, leading to the establishment of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
The Sindh project partnered with NGOs like HANDS, NRSP, SAFCO, SRSO, and TRDP to facilitate community outreach and capacity building. The World Bank’s coordination with development partners, including the Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency, ensured a unified approach to flood recovery and resilience efforts.
Looking ahead, the World Bank plans to strengthen policy frameworks for disaster risk management and focus on a Crisis Preparedness and Response Toolkit. The Country Partnership Frameworks for India and Pakistan prioritize flood resilience and climate-induced disaster preparedness, supporting sustainable, climate-resilient development through institutional strengthening and community-driven solutions.