Emergency Assistance for Recovery from Tropical Cyclone Winston

The emergency assistance loan (EAL) will support the Government of Fiji’s fiscal response to provide additional funding for disaster-related recovery expenditure. The EAL will help to mitigate the adverse social and economic impacts of the cyclone on vulnerable people and households.

1. Reconstruction programs, including school rehabilitation and disaster-responsive housing assistance programs adequately financed within fiscal constraints
- 1a. post-disaster needs assessment and disaster recovery framework endorsed by the cabinet, and circulated to development partners
- 1b. Immediate recovery expenditures fully financed by reprioritizing funds in the FY2016 in accordance with the Finance Instructions of 2010.
- 1c. Additional financing for rehabilitation and reconstruction included in the FY2017 budget (Baseline: USD 0; target: USD 100,000,000.00)

No gender elements (According to the Project Data Sheet)

• Disaster resilience enhanced
- The project supported government recovery efforts which contributed to continued economic growth despite substantial damage and losses. Homes and public buildings were built back better, which is expected to enhance disaster resilience of the affected communities.
• Immediate impact of Tropical Cyclone Winston on poor and vulnerable households mitigated
- A total of 43,524 recipients that were registered under the social protection framework were assisted. This included 23,035 poor households with 90,000 individuals, 3,257 vulnerable families, and 17,232 elderly persons. Source: World Bank Impact Assessment.
- 134 of 219 partially or fully damaged schools were repaired by July 2018. Source: MoE reports.
- The government assisted 37,573 homeowners under the scheme. Source: MoE reports.
• Reconstruction programs, including school rehabilitation and disaster responsive housing assistance programs adequately financed within fiscal constraints
- Post-disaster needs assessment and disaster recovery framework endorsed by the cabinet. Source: MoE letter to World Bank confirmed. Reports available online.
- Recovery expenditures were fully financed. MoE letter to World Bank confirms reprioritization.
- MoE, by letter, confirmed that additional financing for reconstruction and rehabilitation included in the FY2017 budget totaled F$107.7 million.

• Donor organisation contribution:
• ADB - USD 50,000,000.00
• World Bank - USD 50,000,000.00
• On 29 March 2016, the government, with the support of development partners including the European Union, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and a number of regional agencies, initiated a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). The PDNA, through 18 sector assessment teams, built on initial and detailed sector damage assessments undertaken by eight national clusters (led by government ministries):
- (i) health and nutrition;
- (ii) water, sanitation, and hygiene;
- (iii) education; (iv) safety and protection;
- (v) shelter;
- (vi) public works and utilities;
- (vii) logistics; and
- (viii) food security and agriculture.
- The PDNA examined damage to physical assets; losses suffered because of change in economic flows; and assessed priority repair and reconstruction needs.
• Emergency assistance coordination with other agencies - The government-led efforts were undertaken with strong support from the international community. Immediate emergency efforts were supported with military logistical assistance primarily from Australia and New Zealand but with support also from France, India, Indonesia, and Tonga.

• The project required all new school buildings to adhere to stringent “build-back-better” standards, specifically to withstand future cyclones and natural disasters.
• This implies the use and transfer of improved construction technologies and engineering designs for climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
• The ADB-supported design standards incorporated international best practices for disaster resilience - a form of technology transfer to Fiji’s construction and education sectors.
• These designs, materials, and techniques were adopted by local contractors, engineers, and government agencies, improving domestic technical know-how for future resilient infrastructure projects.

• The project involved training and engagement of local contractors, engineers, and government officials in disaster-resilient construction practices.
• Through implementation of “build-back-better” principles, it enhanced institutional capacity in the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Economy, and Fiji’s construction sector.
• The Help for Homes program also built community-level capacity — helping households understand safe building practices, material standards, and compliance with disaster-resilient housing requirements.
• In the long term, these activities strengthen national capacity for disaster recovery planning, resilient infrastructure design, and project management.