The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Vanuatu have signed a project agreement confirming the Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction Project.
Andrea Iffland, Regional Director of ADB’s Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Australia, together with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Willie Jimmy participated in the signing ceremony in Port Vila.
The project will support the government’s efforts to reconstruct, and climate- and disaster-proof transport sector infrastructure on the Efate ring road, which suffered significant damage from flooding as a result of Cyclone Pam in March 2015.
“The Cyclone Pam Road Reconstruction Project will help the government upgrade and strengthen the resilience of targeted infrastructure under the project,” said Iffland at the ceremony.
Some of the tentative civil works under the project include the rehabilitation of 10km of roads; upgrades of 8 major stream crossings and their approach roads; repairs to damaged bridges, box culverts and causeways; protection against storm surges for, 1,000 meters of sealed pavement; and realignment of 200 meters of river channel.
Destruction caused by Cyclone Pam coupled with subsequent flooding is expected to have a negative impact on economic growth, particularly in the tourism sector—the main earner of foreign exchange.
The project which is expected to cost $18.5 million is funded by a $1 million loan and a $7 million grant from ADB’s concessional Asian Development Fund; a $2.8 million loan and a 2.81 million grant from ADB’s Disaster Response Facility; a $2.68 million grant from the Global Environment facility; and a $2.21 million in-kind contribution from the Government of Vanuatu.