World Bank Approves $40M for Moldova's Disaster Risk Management and Resilience

The project, supported by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the European Commission’s DG ECHO, aims to safeguard Moldova’s development against climate vulnerabilities.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $40 million financing package for the Strengthening Moldova’s Disaster Risk Management and Resilience (SMORE) Project. The initiative is aimed at boosting Moldova’s preparedness and response to natural hazards and climate-related shocks that pose risks to lives, homes, and critical infrastructure.

The SMORE Project focuses on three key areas:

National Public Warning System: A cell broadcast-based system integrated with meteorological, hydrological, and geological data to enhance preparedness for floods, fires, and earthquakes. The project also includes the purchase of emergency vehicles and specialized equipment to strengthen national and local emergency response capabilities.

Upgrading Meteorological and Hydrological Services: Enhancing weather forecasting capacity and modernizing early warning systems to support policymakers, businesses, and farmers affected by drought and other climate impacts.

Seismic Design and Retrofitting Standards: Aligning Moldova’s building codes with EU standards for earthquake resilience, including disaster risk mapping, and upgrading the national disaster reserve fund for targeted responses to increasingly frequent climate-related hazards.

The project, supported by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the European Commission’s DG ECHO, aims to safeguard Moldova’s development against climate vulnerabilities.