World Bank and Tunisian Government Strengthen Partnership to Enhance Climate Resilience
The World Bank and the Tunisian government are bolstering their partnership to increase the country's resilience to climate risks and natural disasters through an additional $50 million financing for the Integrated Resilience to Catastrophes in Tunisia (ResCat) program, which initially had a $125 million envelope.
Enhanced Flood Protection
This supplementary financing will extend flood protection to three highly exposed regions - Tunis-West, Gabès, and Djerba - building on the experience of the cities of Bizerte, Monastir, and Nabeul covered by the initial program. This intensification comes as Tunisia continues to face significant flood risks, exacerbated by climate change, as evidenced by the severe floods in January 2026, which brought the heaviest rainfall in over 70 years and widespread disruptions in several regions.
Benefits and Impact
By targeting high-density population corridors and key economic hubs, this reinforcement is expected to benefit over 660,000 additional people. The investments aim to keep businesses operational, protect jobs, and create new local employment opportunities, particularly for the operation and maintenance of flood protection infrastructure. They will also contribute to reducing service interruptions and economic losses, thereby improving livelihoods in some of Tunisia's most vulnerable urban areas. This additional financing will strengthen the links between physical investments, modernization of hydrometeorological and early warning systems, and catastrophe risk financing to ensure that infrastructure, data, and financial protection work together as part of an integrated resilience system.
World Bank Support
"The World Bank supports Tunisia's ongoing progress towards proactive and risk-informed management," says Alexandre Arrobbio, World Bank Operations Manager for Tunisia. "By strengthening flood protection in highly exposed regions, as well as early warning and financial protection systems, this additional financing will contribute to protecting lives and livelihoods and supporting more resilient and inclusive development."
Building on Previous Success
This new financing builds on the solid results achieved since the program's launch in 2021. The initial project, funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD), has already contributed to protecting nearly 170,000 vulnerable people from floods in several Tunisian cities and supported the deployment of pilot early warning systems. It has also contributed to strengthening national institutions responsible for disaster risk management, including ongoing work on a disaster risk financing strategy and the establishment of a permanent institutional structure to coordinate resilience efforts.
Comprehensive Approach
"By combining weather and flood monitoring, early warning systems, and resilient infrastructure, the project expands flood protection to three new regions and supports a more consistent and sustainable national approach to flood risk management," says Dina Ranarifidy, Urban Specialist and Team Leader of the project at the World Bank.
