The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Government of Pakistan and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), has launched the Integrated Climate Risk Management for Strengthened Resilience to Climate project. The initiative, formally introduced through an inception workshop in Islamabad, aims to bolster flood resilience in the vulnerable districts of Buner and Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
Funded by the GCF with US$ 9.8 million, the project will benefit approximately 1.6 million people in regions prone to extreme weather events. It will establish early warning systems, such as weather stations and river-level monitors, and enhance coordination among government departments to ensure timely dissemination of alerts. Communities will be trained to interpret warnings and implement protective measures, including evacuation and safeguarding property and crops.
The project also focuses on institutional capacity building. It will equip local disaster management authorities, district administrations, and emergency response teams with the tools, infrastructure, and training needed to respond effectively to climate-induced emergencies.
Key stakeholders attending the launch included representatives from federal and provincial agencies such as the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC & EC), the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and provincial planning departments.
The launch comes amid ongoing climate-related disasters, with over 100 lives already lost in the 2025 monsoon season. The districts of Buner and Shangla, in particular, have historically suffered from repeated flash floods, landslides, and inadequate adaptation measures, with KP alone recording over US$ 1.5 billion in flood-related losses in 2022.
The project aligns with Pakistan’s national climate adaptation strategies and KP’s disaster risk frameworks. It supports the Green Climate Fund’s Strategic Plan 2024–2027, aiming to address urgent adaptation needs in underserved communities, close preparedness gaps, and build long-term resilience to climate change.
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