World Bank Approves $535M for Pakistan to Enhance Social Protection and Livestock Sectors

LIVAQUA will receive $135 million to finance initiatives that promote climate-smart production, value addition, and inclusive market access.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $535 million in financing for Pakistan to support two critical projects. The additional funding for the Crisis Resilient Social Protection (CRISP) Program is aimed at bolstering the country's social protection system and enhancing resilience among poor and vulnerable households. Meanwhile, the Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation (LIVAQUA) Project will focus on promoting climate-smart and competitive practices among small and medium producers in Sindh's livestock and aquaculture sectors.

“The catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan in 2022 were a tragic reminder of the importance of building resilience to such disasters, including by strengthening both social protection and sectors that support economic growth and recovery,” said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. "It is also imperative to help the vulnerable absorb climate shocks through innovative climate-smart technology and contingency planning.”

The CRISP program will receive $400 million in additional financing. This funding will enhance ongoing efforts to equip Pakistan’s social protection system with the necessary policies and delivery systems for more effective and rapid crisis responses. The program will emphasize long-term policy actions to improve the effectiveness, coverage, and coordination of the national cash transfer program between Federal and Provincial levels.

"Since its inception, the CRISP program has achieved significant results, providing regular safety net support to more than 9 million families and rapidly reaching 2.8 million families during the recent floods," said Amjad Zafar Khan, Task Team Leader for the Project. “The additional financing will not only help families become more resilient to climate and economic shocks but also encourage provincial capacities to take a larger role in social assistance.”

LIVAQUA will receive $135 million to finance initiatives that promote climate-smart production, value addition, and inclusive market access. This project aims to foster growth in the livestock and aquaculture sectors through improved policies, strategic frameworks, and evidence-based decision-making. It will also enhance the capacity of public and private providers to deliver essential services such as disease surveillance and control, diagnostic laboratory services, breeding programs, food safety, and the development and transfer of green technologies.

LIVAQUA will be implemented across all districts in Sindh using a phased approach. It is expected to benefit over 940,000 farm families, including 930,000 livestock households and 10,000 aquaculture producers. The project includes measures to ensure female farmers’ participation and aims to narrow gender gaps.

“The project will improve the livelihoods of small and medium livestock and aquaculture producers, increase their resilience to animal health and climate-related shocks, strengthen the overall growth of these sectors in Sindh, and broadly improve food and nutrition security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Myriam Chaudron, Task Team Leader for the project.