RAPID RESPONSE

Rapid Response

The Bank has responded to a growing number of emergency situations in recent years. It has helped countries recover from natural disasters, such as the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean and the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan; it has supported reconstruction in postconflict situations; it has helped to avert outbreaks of pandemics, such as the avian flu; and it has responded to manmade disasters, such as oil spills. The 2006 report by the Independent Evaluation Group, Hazards of Nature, Risks to Development, noted that although there have been many successes, the Bank’s response has often lacked the speed and effectiveness that emergencies demand.

To address these issues, the Board approved a new policy framework in February 2007 for rapid response to emergency and crisis situations. The new framework allows the Bank to act more quickly by acknowledging the wide range of situations encompassed by the terms crisis and emergency and by simplifying procedures and requirements in emergency operations. The new framework addresses constraints faced in the early (and often critical) stages of recovery and establishes a basis for the Bank to work with countries to reduce the risk of crises and disasters in the first place.

To support implementation of the new policy, the Bank drew on staff from across the institution with experience in emergency work. As soon as the new policy framework took effect, task teams began to implement it. The new policy was first applied to imminent crises. The Emergency Social and Urban Rehabilitation Project, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the first project to receive approval under the new policy. The project addresses the escalating risk of crisis in that country. Four other projects were subsequently approved under the new policy in fiscal 2007.

At the global level, the Bank is working with the United Nations on a framework fiduciary agreement to facilitate World Bank–United Nations collaboration during crises and emergencies. In addition, as part of the effort to reduce the risk of disaster in high-risk countries, the Bank has joined with other donors and the United Nations in creating the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, which will help countries develop and implement disaster risk–mitigation strategies and will provide funds for reconstruction. (See www.worldbank.org/hazards.)