97331 WWW.GFDRR.ORG Stories of Impact A series highlighting achievements in disaster risk management initiatives Weathering Future Storms in the Seychelles REGION: AFRICA RESULTS & ACHIEVEMENTS COUNTRY: SEYCHELLES FOCUS AREA: RESILIENT RECOVERY - The government of Seychelles developed short, medium and long-term disaster resilient development initiatives which are expected Following repeated cyclones and heavy flooding to benefit 87,000 people, and rehabilitate and in the Indian Ocean Island of Seychelles, the protect 500 km of roadways from disasters. government renewed its efforts to increase - The Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) resilience to natural disasters. When Tropical laid the foundation for the creation of Sub- Saharan Africa’s first World Bank-financed Cyclone Felleng battered the multi-island country disaster contingent credit line, which with heavy rain in January 2013, the government provides the government with $7 million in immediate liquidity in the aftermath of a of Seychelles, with support from the World Bank large-scale catastrophe. and the Africa Caribbean Pacific-European Union - As a result of the extensive risk financing Natural Disaster Risk Reduction (ACP-EU NDRR) assessment, Seychelles recently joined the newly launched Southwest Indian Ocean Program, an initiative managed by the Global Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative, a Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery regional effort to increase fiscal capacity to respond to disasters. (GFDRR) worked to assess the damages and ensure that recovery efforts mitigate the effects of - The results of the DaLA led to the develop- ment of multi-risk mapping and an extensive future natural hazards. review of flood risk financing options to ad- dress the $30 million estimated cost of im- mediate reconstruction and recovery needs. GFDRR Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery ACP-EU Natural Disaster Risk ReducƟon Program An initiative of the African, Caribbean and Paci c Group, funded by the European Union and managed by GFDRR Context LESSONS LEARNED Seychelles, with its steep terrain and location in the Indian Lack of compliance to building regulations increased Ocean, is highly vulnerable to tropical cyclones, floods, impact of the disaster. The DaLA revealed that lack storm surges, landslides and tsunamis. The risk is further of compliance and lightly enforced regulations, exacerbated by climate change and sea-level rise. The especially in the areas of construction and land use 2013, Cyclone Felleng caused flooding and landslides that planning contributed to losses. Local authorities are led to damages and losses exceeding $8.4 million, or .77% now working to better enforce building regulations of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Seychelles’ and zonal planning, and disaster-prone zones have infrastructure was the heaviest hit, with many roads been identified. completely washed away by the storm. Approach Working together is essential to building back better. At the time of the disaster, no standardized com- In the wake of the disaster, the government, implemented a munication system for stakeholders was in place. National Flood Task Force, and with support from the World It was evident that long-term disaster resilient Bank Africa Disaster Risk Management Group and GFDRR development for disaster-prone countries can only through the ACP-EU NDRR Program conducted an innovative be achieved when stakeholders collaborate in a Damage Needs and Loss Assessment (DaLA) to evaluate the joint effort. The government has been strengthen- social, economic and environmental impacts of the storm, and ing its partnerships with all levels of society, from quantify needs to increase resilience to future disasters. To the private sector to non-profit, as evidenced by ensure that post-disaster recovery is resilient: the implementation of the DaLA, so that a compre- - The government, in coordination with United Nations (UN) hensive framework can be effectively implemented. agencies, the World Bank and the European Union (EU), conducted a DaLA. - World Bank experts trained key ministries in affected Next Steps sectors such as infrastructure and agriculture in the DaLA The DaLA provided a clear understanding of damages, methodology. needs and losses within the impacted sectors. This laid the - Using the results from the assessments, a disaster groundwork for immediate and long-term recovery and recovery framework on flood-risk management was reconstruction efforts needed to withstand the negative proposed, providing vital recommendations on integrating impacts from future disasters. Medium-term and long-term flood risk management considerations at the institutional, goals were also established and included the relocation of investment and policy levels. key public buildings to higher ground, the preparation of - The implementation of risk transfer and insurance an integrated national disaster risk management plan, the mechanisms was recommended, sparking the launch of a revision of the flood management legal framework and the similar, region-wide initiative. development of new risk-based building codes. “The 2013 floods were a wakeup call for the entire nation, and perhaps a reminder similar to that of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami—that Seychelles is not safe from disasters. The Seychelles DaLA report is proof of the Seychelles’ government’s resolve and commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of our people as well as the conservation of endemic flora, fauna and the country’s other limited natural resources.” — Rolph Payet, Minister of Environment and Energy, Seychelles Contact Shaela Rahman I Washington, DC srahman@worldbank.org I +1 202-458-0283 www.gfdrr.org *All figures in US Dollars