NDRMF wins trust of global lenders

Emerges as credible institution, aims to invest in disaster risk reduction

ISLAMABAD: The trust of international lenders in government-owned institutions is a positive sign for the economy and a milestone for public sector governance in Pakistan.

Amid the crisis situation, the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) has emerged as a credible institution with the aim of investing in disaster risk reduction and developing the disaster risk financing strategy.

The fund received inflows from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank, which proves its competence and transparency.

NDRMF has approved funding for 23 projects worth Rs10.53 billion which include flood protection infrastructure, water conservation structures to mitigate droughts, early warning systems for tsunamis, retro-fitting of public infrastructure in high seismic zones, multi-hazard vulnerability risk assessments, community-based disaster risk management and strengthening Rescue 1122.

In order to contribute to the ongoing government’s efforts for combating Covid-19, the NDRMF included the support to health emergencies in its overall mandate of disaster risk reduction by making amendments to the objective clause of the Memorandum of Association.

It added a new objective “to reduce the risk to the population of Pakistan from any health epidemic/pandemic” and health emergencies, which thus allowed it to extend its grant financing for infection prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A grant financing was approved by the donor for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in less than 24 hours by approving the project aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s capacity for preparedness and response to Covid-19, with total cost of Rs7.89 billion.

To date, the NDMA has procured, including but not limited to, 26,000 screening kits, 140 X-ray machines, clinical ICU ventilators, 150,000 N-95 masks, 3.7 million disposable medical masks, 30 biosafety cabinets (large), 30,000 water impermeable surgical gowns, besides personal protective equipment (PPE) under the grant financing of NDRMF.

Owing to the prevailing health emergency across the country, the NDRMF is being approached by the national and provincial entities for supporting their preparatory efforts to combat the pandemic.

When contacted, NDRMF media coordinator told Daily Express that the fund had outreach to all provinces and the projects financed were owned and approved by the federal and provincial governments.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2020.

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