World Bank and Sindh Government Collaborate on Flood Rehabilitation and Empowerment

Strategic Insights -

During a recent visit to the Shaheed Benazirabad district, a delegation led by Anna Bejerde, Managing Director of the World Bank, and accompanied by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho, inspected the flood rehabilitation housing project under the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affected (SPHF) program. The program aims to rebuild homes destroyed by the 2022 devastating floods, focusing on sustainable community-level rehabilitation and empowering vulnerable communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SPHF program, under the Sindh government and the World Bank, aims to rebuild over 104,822 homes destroyed in Shaheed Benazirabad district, with about 60,000 under construction and nearly 40,000 completed.
  • Across Sindh, the program has provided safe shelter to over 6 million people and created more than 1 million new jobs.
  • The SPHF program has also allocated $54.92 million for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects benefiting 66,691 families in 1,000 villages.
  • Upon the First Lady's initiative, women homeowners were granted ownership rights under the SPHF project, which has significantly benefited rural women.
  • The program has also enabled over 800,000 women to open bank accounts for the first time, promoting financial inclusion.
  • A total of 111,000 disabled persons in Sindh are receiving accessible homes under the program.
  • The World Bank initially provided $500 million to kickstart the recovery efforts, later increasing funding by $450 million over two years.

Statistics:

  • Over 2.4 million homes were destroyed in the 2022 floods (Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah).
  • Funding provided by the World Bank: $500 million initial support and $450 million over two years.
  • Homes rebuilt: 778,000.
  • Families benefiting from WASH projects: 66,691.
  • Families receiving accessible homes: 1,000 villages (covering 66,691 families).
  • Women granted ownership rights: over 800,000 women.
  • Bank accounts opened by women: over 800,000.
  • Total people provided with safe shelter: over 6 million.
  • Total jobs created: over 1 million.

Sources:

  • Press release from the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affected (SPHF) program.
  • Statement by World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine during the visit.