The World Bank has approved $245 million in financing to help 2.3 million people in Himachal Pradesh, India, rebuild resilient infrastructure and strengthen community-owned businesses. The state has faced severe losses from extreme weather events in recent years, including heavy rainfall during the 2023 and 2025 monsoon seasons, which caused widespread damage to housing, infrastructure, and agriculture, while disrupting access to schools, markets, and jobs. The Resilient Action for Development and Disaster Recovery Himachal Pradesh Project aims to support post-disaster recovery and reduce future disaster impacts through better planning and resilient infrastructure design.
The project will benefit over one million women by improving access to essential services and livelihood opportunities in farming, rural tourism, and local handicrafts. Investments in community-owned businesses are expected to create new or improved jobs for 12,000 people while establishing market links for artisans, producers, and farmers. In partnership with the French Development Agency and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the project will strengthen early warning systems and access global knowledge for sustainable infrastructure rehabilitation, including over 250 bridges, roads, and footbridges.
The initiative also includes hazard and risk analysis, establishment of resilience cells, and stabilization of slopes to protect communities and livelihoods. The financing has a 16-year maturity with a 3.5-year grace period and will mobilize an additional $100 million in private capital for disaster-risk financing and insurance solutions, enabling Himachal Pradesh to build back stronger and safer.
