The World Bank Group is supporting Brazil’s Paraná state with a new project designed to strengthen water security, improve agricultural resilience and protect rural communities from increasingly frequent droughts and floods.
Backed by a US$186 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the project is expected to generate or protect between 54,000 and 78,000 jobs across agriculture, water services and related economic activities.
Agribusiness accounts for nearly one-third of Paraná’s economic output and most of its exports, making climate resilience essential to the state’s long-term growth. The project will help approximately 9,200 farmers protect their operations from extreme weather across more than 130,000 hectares of agricultural land.
The initiative will promote climate-resilient and low-carbon farming practices, including no-till cultivation, cover crops and biodigester technology. It will also strengthen rural agricultural extension services by training 500 professionals and developing integrated farm plans for up to 15,000 properties.
Water and sanitation services will be expanded for underserved rural communities, benefiting approximately 60,000 people. In urban areas, water safety measures will support more resilient water supplies for around 2.2 million residents.
Environmental restoration is another major component of the project. Riparian forests and degraded areas covering 10,690 hectares of Permanent Preservation Areas along rivers and springs will be restored. Sustainable land management practices will also be introduced across more than 130,000 hectares of farmland.
The project supports the World Bank’s Water Forward and AgriConnect initiatives by connecting water management, food production and environmental protection. It will support the development of 42 watershed plans and improve water and sanitation services for approximately 77,600 people.
Over the next 20 years, the project is projected to deliver net greenhouse gas sequestration of 3.98 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. By combining sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration and stronger water management, the initiative aims to protect livelihoods while building Paraná’s resilience to climate change.
The World Bank said securing water resources against an increasingly unpredictable climate is critical to protecting jobs, sustaining economic growth and helping farmers, businesses and communities remain productive in the years ahead.
