$500m loan okayed for disaster risks

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million policy-based loan to support climate change and disaster risk reduction and resilience in Pakistan, according to press release from ADB received here Tuesday.

The Climate and Disaster Resilience Enhancement Programme (CDREP) will strengthen Pakistan's institutional capacity for planning, preparedness, and response; increase inclusive investment in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience; and support the scale up of disaster risk financing using a risk-layered approach.

Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and disasters triggered by natural hazards in Asia and the Pacific. Average losses from disaster events exceed $2 billion per year. Women and other vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected by climate change and disaster events.

"This programme builds on the ADB's longstanding work in Pakistan to understand and reduce climate and disaster risks and support effective disaster response," ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov.

"We are proud to support an integrated and comprehensive approach to climate and disaster risk management, including a portfolio of disaster risk financing instruments for timely and adequate funding for disaster response," Zhukov added.

The programme supports enhanced capacity for disaster risk mapping and modelling for investment and development decisions. It enhances coordination for disaster monitoring and response. It supports enhanced planning and prioritisation of gender-sensitive and resilient public investments, including integrated flood risk management and nature-based solutions.

The programme also supports mobilisation of climate finance from public and private sources. This includes issuance of a domestic green Sukuk – Islamic bond. A key innovation of the programme is the use of ADB's Contingent Disaster Financing option for the first time in the Central and West Asia region.

This will provide quick disbursing budget support in the event of a disaster. The programme will support the establishment of a solidarity fund to facilitate the uptake of risk transfer solutions such as agriculture insurance. The programme also supports shock-responsive social protection to deliver cash assistance in the event of a disaster. The ADB has also approved a technical assistance grant of $1 million to support implementation of the programme.

Pakistan is a founding member of ADB. Since 1966, ADB has committed over $52 billion in public and private sector loans, grants, and other forms of financing to promote inclusive economic growth in Pakistan and improve the country's infrastructure, energy and food security, transport networks, and social services.