The Regional Emergency Preparedness and Inclusive Access to Recovery (REPAIR) programme, a collaborative initiative led by the World Bank, supported by the Global Shield Financing Facility (GSFF), and implemented by ARC Ltd., an affiliate of the African Risk Capacity Group, has demonstrated the crucial role of swift disaster response.
Just two business days after the Government of Mozambique submitted an official request for assistance, over USD 16.8 million was quickly allocated to aid in the country’s recovery efforts.
The programme provides participating nations with pre-arranged, easily accessible funding to enhance their disaster response and recovery efforts following climate-related crises.
In this instance, the funds were disbursed after Tropical Cyclone Jude devastated Mozambique in March, severely affecting communities in the Nampula and Zambezia provinces.
The financial support will enable the Government of Mozambique to deliver vital relief, including food, medical supplies, and shelter, to nearly 150,000 people affected by the cyclone.
This rapid disbursement highlights the shared commitment of all REPAIR partners: to make speed not only a principle but a lifesaving tool. In emergencies, every moment counts, and swift access to funds can help prevent further suffering, protect livelihoods, and speed up recovery.
“Our thoughts are with the families affected by Cyclone Jude – ARC Ltd stands with them by helping deliver the support they need, when they need it most,”said Lesley Ndlovu, CEO of ARC Ltd.
“We’re grateful to the Government of Mozambique for their trust and foresight. Speed matters—and we are proud to be part of a response that puts people first.”
The REPAIR programme is founded on three key principles: speed, ensuring swift disbursement during critical times of need; flexibility, enabling countries to allocate resources based on their unique priorities; and sustainability, aiming to mobilise long-term funding from both public and private sectors.
Caroline Cerrutti, Lead Financial Sector Specialist for the Southern Africa Region at the World Bank, commented: “REPAIR’s approach hinges on its ability to provide rapid and flexible financial support to countries in their moment of greatest need—namely, the period immediately after a disaster.
“The programme’s commitment to disbursing life-saving funds within seven days of an event, via the use of pre-arranged financial instruments, can be the difference between recovery and relapse. REPAIR was able to respond to Mozambique’s request for USD 16.87 million in two business days to support its disaster response and recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jude.”
As climate shocks become more frequent and severe, speed has become a critical factor in disaster response. Delays can turn manageable crises into prolonged humanitarian and economic challenges.
The quick disbursement of funds through mechanisms like REPAIR highlights the importance of having pre-arranged financial systems in place to transition from emergency to action—allowing for timely interventions that can help mitigate further losses.
REPAIR is designed to provide African countries with more efficient financial tools, quicker systems, and adaptable solutions to respond to disasters. Through its partnership with ARC Ltd., the programme seeks to improve the effectiveness of disaster response and recovery efforts, focusing not just on financial support but also on enhancing resilience and promoting long-term recovery.
Mozambique, along with Comoros and Madagascar, is participating in the first phase of REPAIR. By 2031, the programme aims to expand to 12 countries across Eastern and Southern Africa, benefiting over 24 million people. With USD 926 million in World Bank funding, REPAIR also aims to mobilise an additional USD 795 million from private sector investments.
