South Asia, the world's fastest-growing region, faces significant challenges due to climate change. With nearly 2 billion people at risk from longer monsoon seasons and droughts, the region's development is under threat. In recent years, disasters such as the historic floods in Pakistan's Sindh Province in 2022 and recurring landslides and earthquakes in India's Uttarakhand state have highlighted these vulnerabilities.
The World Bank is actively assisting South Asian countries in adopting proactive disaster management strategies. By supporting resilient infrastructure development and engaging local communities, especially women and disadvantaged groups, the organization aims to safeguard development gains. In both Sindh and Uttarakhand, efforts focus on rebuilding homes and infrastructure while ensuring women's inclusion in recovery processes.
Pakistan faces annual flooding losses exceeding $1 billion, with socially disadvantaged groups suffering most during relief efforts. The 2022 floods affected 33 million people and caused over $30 billion in damages. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand regularly experiences natural disasters like flash floods and landslides due to its geographical location.
The World Bank's "Build better before" strategy emphasizes constructing resilient physical and social infrastructure before disasters occur. In Sindh, the Flood Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project provides housing reconstruction grants to vulnerable households through direct bank transfers. This initiative uses a geo-enabled Management Information System for grant distribution and project monitoring.
In Uttarakhand, since 2014, the Disaster Recovery Project has focused on resilience building by restoring connectivity and enhancing disaster response capabilities. The project promotes gender inclusion by encouraging joint bank accounts for grant recipients and joint ownership of rebuilt homes.
The Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project has reconstructed or repaired critical infrastructure benefiting 3 million people. It provided flood protection for 2.3 million individuals by rehabilitating embankments and roads while also improving access to clean water for 1.5 million residents.
In Uttarakhand, over nine years, more than 747,000 people benefited from new resilient houses, roads, bridges, public buildings, river protection works, and enhanced disaster management systems.
Partnerships with NGOs such as HANDS and NRSP play a vital role in community outreach for house reconstruction in Sindh. Collaborations with international organizations like the Asian Development Bank ensure coordinated flood response activities across regions.
Looking ahead, the World Bank plans to strengthen policy frameworks for disaster risk management through initiatives like the Crisis Preparedness and Response Toolkit. Country Partnership Frameworks prioritize climate-induced disaster preparedness while promoting sustainable development practices adaptable to future challenges.