World Bank Supports Moldova to Boost Preparedness for Natural Disasters, Climate Shocks

CHISINAU, September 5, 2024-The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved today a $40 million financing package for the Strengthening Moldova's Disaster Risk Management and Resilience (SMORE) Project, which aims to bolster Moldova's preparedness for and response to natural hazards and climate-related shocks that threaten lives, homes, and critical infrastructure.

The SMORE Project takes a comprehensive approach to improving disaster risk management in Moldova through three components:

1. Installing and implementing a national cell broadcast-based public warning system: This system, integrated with existing meteorological, hydrological, and geological information systems, will significantly enhance the country's preparedness against natural hazards like floods, fires, and earthquakes. The project also supports procuring emergency response vehicles, such as fire engines, and specialized equipment for search, rescue, and logistics operations, enhancing national and local-level emergency response services.
2. Upgrading Moldova's meteorological and hydrological services: SMORE aims to strengthen the country's weather forecasting capacity and modernize the early warning system, which will enable improved decision-making for policymakers, businesses, and farmers, who are increasingly impacted by drought.
3. Aligning the country's seismic design and retrofitting standards with EU building codes, particularly for earthquake resilience: This involves developing national methodologies for seismic and disaster risk mapping and rapid visual screening of buildings for seismic vulnerability. The project will also help redesign and enhance the country's existing disaster reserve fund to provide transparent, rule-based, and targeted funding in response to hazards that are expected to become more intense and frequent due to climate change.

"Moldova is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in Europe. The country has witnessed one significant negative climate and disaster-related event on average every three years since 2000," said Inguna Dobraja, World Bank Group Country Manager for Moldova. "Improving Moldova's emergency preparedness and response capabilities is critical for protecting human lives and preventing the loss of its development gains to disasters and climate change events."

The SMORE Project is supported through grant funds provided by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the Technical Assistance Financing Facility (TAFF) for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness, which is financed by the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and administered by GFDRR.

The World Bank and Moldova

Since 1992, the World Bank has allocated over $2.1 billion to more than 70 operations in Moldova, covering areas like regulatory reform and business development, modernization of government services, tax administration, land registration, education, roads, health, agriculture, water, sanitation, and energy. As of September 2024, 14 active World Bank operations in Moldova are improving the lives of tens of thousands of people across the country-including school children, farmers, persons with disabilities, and refugees from Ukraine. Current engagements by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), members of the World Bank Group, include projects in the financial sector, private and public sectors advisory, and risk insurance.