Moldova Disaster and Climate Risk
Management Project (DCRMP)
Quality Enhancement Review
Workshop: Role of Hydro-meteorological Services in Disaster Risk Management
Anatol Gobjila, DCRMA World Bank Task Team Leader
March 12, 2012
Country and Sector Context
• Moldova is a small landlocked country
• Temperate climate zone with some sub-arid areas
in the south
• Agriculture and food production are key sectors
for employment and exports;
• Climate variability and extreme weather
phenomena have been increasing in the past 20
years.
Country and Sector Context
• Moldova’s economy remains highly vulnerable to
natural disasters, particularly in agriculture and
related sectors.
• Moldova is exposed to many types of hazards,
including floods, droughts, and earthquakes, which
can lead natural disasters and add to economic
vulnerability.
• Climate variability is likely to increase the frequency
and intensity of natural disasters as evidenced by,
most recently, the catastrophic disasters associated
with the 2007 drought and devastating 2008 and
2010 floods.
Project Design Approach
• Focus on ex-ante disaster risk reduction
measures;
• Importance of regional cooperation and
coordination;
• Integration of project activities: weather
forecasting systems – response capability – local
application.
Thematic Focus
Capacity building and investments for
▫Hazard monitoring
▫Early warning
▫Disaster management
▫Adaptation to climate risks
Project Financing
• IDA credit in an amount equivalent to US$ 10.0
million;
• A GFDRR technical assistance grant amounting
to US$100,000.
Development Objective
Strengthen the State Hydro-meteorological service’s ability
to forecast severe weather and improve Moldova’s capacity
to prepare for and respond to natural disasters
The PDO will be achieved through strengthened capacities
to:
(i) monitor weather and issue early warnings of weatherrelated hazards by providing timely and accurate
hydro-meteorological forecasts and services;
(ii) manage and coordinate responses to natural and manmade disasters; and
(iii) help farmers, be aware of, and adapt to natural
hazards and climate variability.
Project Components
• Component A: Strengthen the State Hydrometeorological service’s severe weather
forecasting capacity;
• Component B: Improve disaster preparedness
and emergency response;
• Component C: Initiate activities for adaptation
to climate risks in agriculture;
• Component D: Project management.
Component A
• Develop early warning/now-casting capabilities;
• Dual polarization Doppler radar technology for
localized forecasts;
• Development of plans for seasonal/climate
forecasts.
• Staff training in using new equipment and
providing opportunities for exploring
international experience in weather and climate
service delivery.
Component B
• Feasibility study and design for an Emergency
Command Center;
• Establishing an Emergency Command Center;
• Capacity building for staff of the department for
emergency services.
Component C
• Development of a Just-in-Time Communication
Platform for rapid dissemination of critical,
localized weather information to a large number
of farmers and rural communities;
• Adverse weather adaptation advisory services.
Early Implementation Results
• Major procurement packages have been initiated:
▫ Doppler radar procured;
▫ Feasibility study for the Emergency Command
Center contracted;
▫ Mobile communication platform under
development;
▫ Delivery of climate risk adaptation advisory
services under way.
From Design to Implementation:
Early Lessons
• Capacity building in targeted entities should
begin on day one;
• Exposure to regional and international
experience can be an extremely facilitative
aspect of implementation.