The World Bank has approved a $650 million loan to support the Istanbul Resilience Project, a major infrastructure investment to strengthen the city’s capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters and climate-related risks. Designed to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and economic stability in Türkiye’s largest city, the project focuses on modernizing emergency infrastructure, enhancing the resilience of public facilities, and improving institutional preparedness.
Home to more than 15 million people and generating nearly one-third of Türkiye’s GDP, Istanbul is highly exposed to seismic activity and climate-related shocks. Disruption to the city’s economy or services would have significant national repercussions. The project aims to ensure that essential public services remain operational during crises, while also preserving economic continuity and protecting vulnerable communities.
“This project is vital to safeguard Istanbul’s people and economy. By strengthening emergency preparedness, modernizing public infrastructure, and supporting community resilience, Türkiye is building a safer future for one of its most strategic provinces,” said Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Türkiye. “It will protect lives and jobs while enhancing disaster response capacities and ensuring the continuity of critical public services.”
The Istanbul Resilience Project focuses on four key areas:
- Strengthening Emergency Preparedness and Response: the project will finance the construction of critical emergency response infrastructure, including 250 paramedic stations, two search and rescue centers, and 19 fire stations and wildfire detection towers. It will also enhance emergency logistics, and search and rescue capacity through equipment provision, training, and community-level preparedness activities.
- Enhancing Resilience of Public Buildings: approximately 50 critical public facilities will be developed, such as schools, dormitories, elderly care centers, and community hubs, according to advanced seismic and climate resilience standards. These will also integrate green infrastructure, including solar power generation, rainwater harvesting, and energy-efficient systems, ensuring they can function as self-sufficient safe shelters during disasters.
- Technical Assistance and Institutional Strengthening: the project will support Istanbul’s provincial authorities and the Istanbul Project Coordination Unit (IPCU) with technical studies, institutional capacity building, and planning for longer term investment needs. Among these topics, technical assistance on seismic resilience standards and international good practice is also being provided to the IPCU team with support from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.
- Contingent Emergency Response: a dedicated mechanism will allow rapid reallocation of project funds to meet urgent recovery and reconstruction needs in the event of a future emergency.
World Bank Task Team Leader Salih Bugra Erdurmus emphasized that the project “is a comprehensive effort to strengthen both the physical infrastructure and the emergency response systems of Istanbul,” ensuring public services can remain operational during crises and that emergency teams are fully equipped to act swiftly and effectively.
The initiative is aligned with Türkiye’s 12th National Development Plan, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy, and Nationally Determined Contributions, as well as Istanbul’s Provincial Risk Reduction Plan (IRAP). By addressing both infrastructure upgrades and institutional readiness, the project will significantly improve the city’s ability to withstand seismic and climate hazards, ultimately protecting millions of residents and supporting sustainable economic growth.
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