Washington July 1st, 2025 ¡ª ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ has approved a Contingent Emergency Response Project (CERP) for Djibouti, an instrument that will allow the country to prepare better and respond swiftly to emergencies. This makes Djibouti one of the first countries in the world to adopt this mechanism, underscoring the nation's commitment to enhancing its crisis preparedness and response capabilities.
As part of the Rapid Response Option (RRO), the CERP is designed to enable the government to repurpose funds from existing ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ projects to respond promptly in the event of an eligible crisis ¨C including floods, droughts and health emergencies. The RRO is part of the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳¡¯s enhanced Crisis Preparedness and Response Toolkit, which provides a suite of flexible financing instruments to support countries during emergencies.
"The approval of this instrument is a testament to our commitment to supporting Djibouti in building resilience and enhancing its capacity to respond to crisis," said Fatou Fall, Resident Representative of the World bank Group for Djibouti. "As the first country in the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) region to have an approved CERP, Djibouti sets a pioneering example in proactive crisis management."
Djibouti is at high risk to natural disasters due to its geographic location. The country frequently experiences droughts, floods, earthquakes, storms, epidemics, and pest outbreaks. Over the past decades, disasters have affected a large part of its population, with damages and losses amounting to tens of millions of dollars. Since 2000, floods and droughts alone have accounted for more than two-thirds of all disasters in the country.
When triggered, the CERP allows the reallocation of funds from Djibouti¡¯s existing portfolio of active ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ projects to finance emergency response efforts. This approach ensures a fast, coordinated, and efficient use of available resources during emergencies.
"We are proud to be among the first countries to implement the Contingent Emergency Response Project, enhancing Djibouti's capacity to swiftly address emergencies," stated Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance of Djibouti. "This partnership with the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ is crucial for safeguarding our communities and ensuring sustainable development."
