The World Bank Board has approved $600 million in financing to support Türkiye's efforts to enhance resilience against floods and droughts, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. The Türkiye Flood and Drought Management Project aims to increase flood control for residents in flood-prone areas, improve farmers' drought-monitoring capacity, and strengthen the country's institutional capacity for managing flood and drought risks.
The project will directly benefit over 150,000 people living in seven river basins that are highly susceptible to flooding. Additionally, 10,000 farmers will receive crucial drought monitoring data, including real-time information, to better manage water stress.
Floods account for nearly 30% of all natural disasters in Türkiye, causing significant economic damage and loss of life. Drought poses another major challenge, particularly as Türkiye is the world's ninth-largest producer of agricultural products.
"Türkiye is increasingly recognizing the importance of taking action on climate change. The World Bank is delighted to support Türkiye in its wide-ranging efforts to build resilience against climate-related risks to protect people and the economy as well as achieve the country’s target of becoming carbon neutral by 2053," said Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Türkiye.
The project will address climate-related challenges through several initiatives:
- Construction and rehabilitation of flood control infrastructure and piloting nature-based solutions in seven river basin areas: North Aegean, East Black Sea, Kizilirmak, Buyuk Menderes, West Mediterranean, East Mediterranean, and West Black Sea.
- Improvement and expansion of flood monitoring, forecasting, and warning systems.
- Piloting real-time agricultural drought monitoring in the Ceyhan basin with plans for expansion. This includes installing meteorological and soil moisture monitoring stations to optimize irrigation water usage and enhance drought resilience. Drought monitoring maps will help farmers improve water use efficiency and crop diversification.
- Capacity development, institutional strengthening, and improved coordination among various government agencies and stakeholders.
"Flood and drought management is a priority area for Türkiye and this project focuses on outcomes that will increase climate resilience to these natural disasters which are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity," said Canan Yıldız Uz, one of the World Bank Project Team Leaders.
The World Bank remains a key partner for Türkiye in disaster risk management across multiple sectors including municipal infrastructure, water resources management, housing, health projects like the Türkiye Earthquake Floods and Wildfires Emergency Reconstruction Project; Climate Disaster Resilient Cities Project; Disaster Risk Management in Schools Project; Seismic Resilience Energy Efficiency Project; Health Systems Strengthening Support Project; Irrigation Modernization Project; Water Circularity Efficiency Improvement Project.