The World Bank has approved an additional US$50 million in financing for Tunisia to strengthen flood protection and disaster preparedness, expanding a national programme aimed at improving resilience to climate-related risks.
The new funding will support the expansion of the Integrated Disaster Resilience Program, known as ResCat, which focuses on protecting vulnerable urban areas from flooding and improving early warning and risk management systems.
The programme will target three flood-prone regions West Tunis, Gabès, and Djerba where authorities plan to upgrade drainage infrastructure, strengthen flood control systems and improve disaster response mechanisms.
According to the World Bank, the additional financing will help Tunisia better manage the growing risks linked to climate change, which has intensified extreme weather events across North Africa in recent years.
“By scaling up flood protection in highly flood-prone regions and reinforcing early warning and financial protection systems, this additional financing will help protect lives and livelihoods and support a more resilient and inclusive development path,” said Alexandre Arrobbio, the World Bank’s country manager for Tunisia.
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The project builds on the first phase of the programme implemented in Bizerte, Monastir, and Nabeul, where flood mitigation infrastructure and disaster preparedness systems have already been introduced.
Tunisia remains highly vulnerable to flooding, particularly in densely populated coastal and urban areas where rapid urbanisation and aging drainage systems have increased exposure to extreme rainfall.
The country experienced severe flooding earlier this year after heavy storms in January triggered some of the most intense rainfall recorded in more than 70 years.
Local authorities reported that the storms damaged more than 128 sites, mainly rural roads and transport infrastructure, disrupting mobility and economic activity in several regions.
The World Bank said the expanded programme is expected to benefit more than 660,000 people, particularly those living in densely populated urban corridors and key economic zones.
The financing will also support the development of improved early warning systems and financial protection mechanisms designed to help authorities respond more quickly to disasters and reduce the economic impact of extreme weather.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, the initiative is also expected to support local job creation, particularly in the construction, operation and maintenance of flood protection systems.
“The investments are designed to keep businesses operating, protect jobs and create new local employment opportunities, particularly for the operation and maintenance of flood protection infrastructure,” the World Bank said in a statement.
Officials say the programme will also help safeguard economic activity by protecting critical infrastructure such as roads, drainage systems and public facilities from flood damage.
Flooding has become a growing concern for Tunisia as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across the Mediterranean region.
Urban flooding in particular poses risks to housing, transport networks and tourism facilities a key sector of the Tunisian economy.
The latest financing brings the total value of the ResCat programme to US$175 million since its launch in 2021, making it one of the country’s largest climate resilience initiatives.
The World Bank has been supporting Tunisia’s climate adaptation efforts as part of broader international efforts to help developing countries cope with climate-related risks and natural disasters.
Development institutions say strengthening disaster resilience is becoming increasingly important for countries like Tunisia, where climate shocks can threaten livelihoods, infrastructure and long-term economic stability.
With the new funding, Tunisian authorities are expected to accelerate flood protection works in vulnerable areas while strengthening national systems to better anticipate and respond to extreme weather events.
