The World Bank has said that a $30 million grant to Comoros will provide immediate and medium-term support to the vulnerable population of the country.

Development Diaries reports that the bank recently approved the grant through the ‘Shock Responsive and Resilience Social Safety Net Project’.

The project, it is understood, is designed to be implemented nationwide with keen focus on Mwali, Ndzouwani, and Ngazidja, covering around 200 villages.

Being a volcanic archipelago state, Comoros is highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, further exacerbating the risk of food insecurity and poverty.

Through the project, poor and vulnerable households in the country will receive social cash transfers to help them meet their immediate needs in the face of multiple crises, including increasing food insecurity.

About 40,000 households, reaching an estimated 200,000 people, will benefit from the project, according to the bank.

‘With all the challenges the country faces, there is a strong and obvious need to strengthen and expand the social protection system in Comoros in order to support the Comorian population to cope with and recover from shocks’, World Bank Resident Representative in Comoros, Boubacar Sidiki Walbani, said.

‘By covering around 26 percent of the Comorian population or 32 percent of the population in the project area, this project reaffirms the World Bank’s commitment to support the government of Comoros and Comorian population to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and strengthen their resilience in the face of various and increasing shocks’.

The interventions will be complemented with economic inclusion and human capital accompanying measures, as well as technical training to enhance beneficiaries’ skills and awareness around key areas, including gender norms.

Photo Source: Svetlana