Safer, Climate-Resilient Roads Set to Improve Lives of 13,000 people in Comoros

Washington, July 7, 2025-Comoros is set to rehabilitate 12 kilometers of climate-resilient roads, restoring vital connectivity and strengthening disaster resilience for 13,000 people in one of the country's most cyclone-affected regions. Additional financing of $12.5 million through a grant from the World Bank Group's International Development Association (IDA), will complete the critical Mtsangadjou-Foumbouni corridor, enhancing access and safety for vulnerable coastal communities.

"The Comoros Post-Kenneth Recovery and Resilience Project came at a critical time and has played a vital role in helping Comoros rebuild after the devastating cyclone. As the Comoros vulnerability to climate shocks remains high, there is a need for continued support to make the infrastructure more resilient and safeguard communities. The additional financing complements investments from the parent project and the other key development partners and will create a multiplier effect by strengthening climate-resilient infrastructure and enhancing regional integration," said Boubacar-Sid Barry, Resident Representative for the World Bank in Comoros.

The additional financing scales up the Comoros Post-Kenneth Recovery and Resilience Project, accelerating recovery and strengthening long-term resilience in areas devastated by Cyclone Kenneth. The roads under this project are in' low-lying coastal areas and are among the most exposed to flooding, sea level rise, and coastal erosion in the country. All works are designed following Build Back Better principles to enhance resilience against future climate-related hazards.

"This new funding is both timely and strategic," said Tahir Akbar, Senior Urban Specialist at the World Bank and Task Team Leader for the project. "It addresses Comoros' growing climate vulnerabilities, supports the government's priority to connect the southern region's capital, Foumbouni, to the key coastal cities of Mohoro, Bandamadji, and Mtsangadjou on the RN3 north-south corridor in the east."

Intense tropical Cyclone Kenneth struck Comoros in April 2019, claiming at least seven lives, injuring over 200 people, and causing an estimated $186 million in damages and losses, equivalent to 16% of the country's GDP. In response, the World Bank launched the Post-Kenneth Recovery and Resilience Project, supported by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), which helped lay the groundwork for the project, contributing to the damage and needs assessment.

To date, over 70,000 people have benefited from housing reconstruction efforts and neighborhood improvement initiatives. The first 55 homes have been rebuilt, while construction of the remaining units is expected to be completed by November 2025. In addition, seven kilometers of roadworks are progressing well and are scheduled for completion in July 2025.

Contact:

Cômoros: Dia Styvanley, +261 32 05 001 27, dstyvanley@worldbank.org

Washington: Daniella van Leggelo-Padilla, (202) 473-4989, dvanleggelo@worldbank.org