COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN SERBIA From response to resilience AT A GLANCE A thermal map showing the extent of Country Serbia the historic 2014 floods in Serbia Risks Climate change exacerbating extreme weather events Area of Engagement Deepening engagements in resilience to climate change After catastrophic flooding, the Government of Serbia takes proactive steps to better predict and lessen the impact of future disasters A NEW NORMAL OF CLIMATE EXTREMES Heatwaves and extreme weather events are fast becoming routine in Serbia and the surrounding countries, as the impacts of climate change make themselves felt. A recent World Bank report found that summer temperatures in the Balkans could average 7.5°C higher than in pre-industrial times, with water shortages and extreme weather events becoming far more frequent and severe. This growing climate risk is already threatening Serbia’s recent socioeconomic progress. In 2014, the country suffered its MOVING FROM RESPONSE TO worst flooding in over a century. The floods caused nearly RESILIENCE $1.5 billion in damages, forcing more than 125,000 people into poverty and pushing the country into a recession. A severe To meet these challenges, Serbia has taken a proactive and prolonged heat wave stifled much of Central Europe in approach to building resilience to climate and disaster August 2017, buckling train tracks in Serbia and forcing at least risk. With support from the Global Facility for Disaster 10 countries to issue red alerts for health concerns and water Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the World Bank, the conservation. Once a rare nuisance, extreme weather events government has made tremendous strides to ensure effective like these are becoming more commonplace throughout the recovery from disasters, and benefits from one of the most region – and more dangerous. comprehensive disaster risk management strategies to date. This strategy includes: For development in the region to be sustainable, governments will need to be able to better absorb budgetary shocks from ►► The establishment of a National Disaster Risk Management events like these, and be better prepared to cope with their Program (NDRMP) to coordinate efforts to boost resilience socioeconomic impacts. throughout the country; RESULTS IN RESILIENCE SERIES ►► The procurement of a Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan from the World Bank, the first loan in the region to take advantage of the Catastrophe- Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO), which makes up to €66.1 million (US$ 70 million) available 24 hours after a Emergency funds up to disaster without affecting development priorities. ►► The creation, supported by GFDRR, the European Union, $70 million and the World Bank, of Digital Terrain Models using advanced LiDAR surveying technology to better predict and to protect development gains respond to flood risks. LESSONS LEARNED A BROAD In 2017, the government A changing climate means that governments need RESILIENCE launched its National Disaster to create forward-looking resilience strategies. STRATEGY Risk Management Action Plan, outlining a robust four-year road A recent World Bank report found that summer temperatures map to scale up and mainstream in the Balkans could average 7.5°C higher than in pre- resilience building activities, including strengthening industrial times, with water shortages and extreme weather crisis management systems, informing risk reduction events becoming far more frequent and severe. A substantial interventions, and implementing measures to better shift towards preparedness will be needed to secure absorb fiscal shocks caused by natural disasters. development gains globally. Serbia’s comprehensive approach to managing climate and disaster risk is a step in the right RISK– After the floods, the government direction. INFORMED sought support from GFDRR, the INVESTMENTS World Bank, the EU, and UNDP Aligning legal and institutional frameworks before to perform a detailed recovery a disaster strikes results in a more efficient needs assessment to streamline recovery processes. response. This effort helped inform a generalized risk profile for the country to guide decision makers in priority In the aftermath of a disaster, the urgency of aid and recovery DRM investments, and in the development of a efforts can cause confusion and inefficiencies unless strategic comprehensive financial protection strategy. laws and institutional capacities are already in place. In the case of Serbia, GFDRR provided technical assistance to inform the new Law on Reconstruction following Natural and other PRESERVING The Cat-DDO enables the Hazards, which reformed the government’s assistance and PROGRESS Government of Serbia to directly reconstruction system. This will help streamline responses support affected municipalities to future events, reducing recovery time and helping in the aftermath of catastrophe, without disrupting communities bounce back quickly from disasters. long-term development efforts. ACTIONABLE New high-resolution flood risk INFORMATION maps can be integrated into national information systems, which will also benefit from hydrometeorological modernization efforts. Contact: Elif Ayhan October 2017 eayhan@worldbank.org www.gfdrr.org