Samoa Set To Strengthen Disaster Readiness, Protect Livelihoods And Create Jobs With New World Bank Support

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directorshasapproved new financingthat will significantly strengthen Samoa's capacity to prepare for,withstandand recover fromclimate and disaster-related events,protecting lives and livelihoodsfor approximately180,000Samoans,or 80 percent of the country's population.

Samoa is highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as cyclones, floods, and tsunamis, which pose a significant threat to its population, economy, and development gains. Over 70 percent of Samoans live in low-lying coastal areas, making them particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change.

ThePacific Region Preparedness, Adaptation and Resilience(PREPARE)- Samoaprojectthat will be implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministryof Works, Transport and Infrastructure of Samoa,will enhance the country's multi-hazard early warning systems, improve the resilience of critical infrastructure. The project will also support risk-informed urban planning,andhelp protect jobs and businesses by reducing the economic disruption caused by disasters.

A significant portionof the project will focus onSālelologaon Savai’i Island, where approximately40,000 peoplewill directlybenefitfrom resilient infrastructure upgrades and better urban planning. This targeted investment aims to manage urbanization safely and reduce the exposure of people and assets to climate risks.

This project will also directly finance civil works, creating employment opportunities for Samoan workers and businesses while strengthening local capacity.The project will train at least 300 personnel in multi-hazard early warning systems and ensure at least 50 percent female representation in formal urban planning committees.

“We are committed to supporting Samoa through this criticalinvestmentso communities are better prepared for disasters,”saidStefano Mocci, World Bank Country Manager for the South Pacific.“By strengthening early warning systems and resilient infrastructure, this project will help protect livesandlivelihoods, along withthe businesses and jobs that sustain Samoa’s economy.”

Thetotalfinancing package for PREPAREis USD 35 million(approximatelyWST94.89 million) thatincludesa USD 5 million grant from the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) to enhance global observation networks for extreme weather andanemergencyresponse componentof USD 500,000which allows for the rapid reallocation of fundsforimmediate recovery and relief efforts following an eligible crisis or emergency.

Preparation of the project was supported by a technicalassistanceprogram funded under the Africa Caribbean Pacific-European Union Disaster Risk ManagementProgramme,and the Japan-Bank Program for Mainstreaming DRM in Developing Countries, both managedby the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/03/23/samoa-set-to-strengthen-disaster-readiness-protect-livelihoods-and-create-jobs-with-new-world-bank-support

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