By Derick Tsimba

The Government of Zimbabwe has secured US$2.2 million from the World Bank for funding the Zimbabwe Recovery and Resilience Project, Harare Post can report. 

On its twitter handle Ministry of Finance and Economic development said, “Government recently secured a grant of US$2.2 million from the World Bank for funding the Zimbabwe Recovery and Resilience Project. The Project Development Objective is to improve Governmental coordination capacity to respond to cyclone Idai.

“To scale-up and institutionalize Disaster Risk Management capacity. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is the executing agency of this Project. It will be supported by the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing,” said the Ministry.

Ministry of Finance also said, “Government will ensure that the activities financed by the project comply with the Environmental and Social Standards. This Environmental and Social Commitment Plan sets out material measures and actions, any specific documents or plans, as well as the timing for each of these,” said the Ministry.

Zimbabwe experienced a devastating natural disaster, when Tropical Cyclone Idai hit the eastern part of the country on 15-16 March 2019. After the disaster a Rapid Impact and Needs Assessment (RINA), jointly conducted by Government and the World Bank indicated that 60,000 people were displaced, 18,000 houses were destroyed, and 270,000 people were directly impacted. 

The funding from World Bank is in response to the Government’s request for assistance to develop and operationalize the Zimbabwe Recovery and Resilience Project. The project will guide the long-term recovery efforts of Government, partners, and other relevant stakeholders and facilitate the coordination of the different actors for implementing the findings of the RINA.