Istanbul Resilience Project

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The proposed Project is envisaged as part of a long-term strategic engagement on DRM and climate change adaptation and mitigation in Istanbul. The Project will finance the most urgent and high priority actions under the Istanbul IRAP which: (i) significantly enhance preparedness and response capacity; (ii) build disaster risk resilience and climate resilience; (iii) complement efforts of IFIs and other WBG investments; and (iv) are replicable and scalable with the potential to crowd in financing from different sources. The Project will also support technical assistance (TA) activities to identify longer-term investments needed in other sectors, including assessments, pre-feasibility and economic studies, however, financing of works in these areas are beyond the scope of this Project. Project ComponentsThe Project includes four components: (a) Strengthening the Emergency Preparedness and Response System; (b) Enhancing the Resilience of Critical Buildings and Facilities; (c) Project Management and Technical Assistance; and (d) Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC). This Project finances investments and technical assistance only at the Provincial level, managed by the Istanbul Governorate and implemented by the IPCU. Component 1 – Strengthening the Emergency Preparedness and Response System (US$192.5 million) This component will expand and enhance Istanbul province’s emergency preparedness and response systems and its technical and institutional capacity, with focus on climate adaptation investments in critical emergency response buildings and resilient public space, emergency preparedness training for first responders and communities, and early warning for forest fires. Activities to be financed include: (a) Ensuring Emergency Response Buildings are Resilient and Fully Functional (US$122.5 million). This sub-component will finance the construction of critical emergency response buildings to the highest seismic and climate resistance standards against climate change exacerbated extreme heat, floods, and wildfires, to ensure the buildings are fully operational after disasters with independent and resilient water, energy, and communications systems. Types of buildings to be financed include approximately: (i) 250 paramedic stations; (ii) two search and rescue operations and training centers; and (iii) 19 fire stations and detection towers for early warning that have been identified as critical to strengthening wildfire management. This sub-component will also finance the construction of emergency response control and coordination centers and logistics and storage facilities . The buildings will be energy and water-use efficient through improved insulation and on-site renewable energy generation among other measures. Approximately 80 percent of the financing under this sub-component will construct buildings and facilities according to the national Class B Energy Performance Standard, applying an energy-efficiency standard that is 20 percent higher than the national minimum requirement for Class C. Although currently not envisioned, resilient retrofitting and reconstruction of new facilities are also eligible expenses under this component. Public spaces adjacent to and part of selected buildings will also be improved to increase permeability, which supports emergency evacuation efforts and help reduce extreme heat and flood risk. The sub-component will also finance the development of procedures, plans and guidelines to ensure continuous functionality of the facilities as well as the development of an emergency logistics management plan for Istanbul province. Feasibility studies, designs, supervision consultancies, civil works and goods (e.g., furnishings) will be eligible for financing. All construction will take place on pre-identified public land. (b) Training and Equipping First Responders (US$57 million). This sub-component will finance: (i) acquisition of vehicles and equipment for search and rescue, emergency and disaster response as well as emergency communication on the impacts of climate risks such as floods/wildfires and their seasonal patterns, including ambulances, information and communications infrastructure, tents and temporary livestock shelters, and fire-fighting equipment; (ii) expanded training for search and rescue and mass-casualty management for first responders; (iii) development and roll-out of new training for first responders on how to interact during emergencies with vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, the elderly, and displaced people. Energy efficiency will be one of the selection criteria for the equipment. (c) Community-level Emergency Preparedness (US$13 million). Under this sub-component, community members will receive emergency preparedness and response training, including for climate change induced wildfires and floods, as well as first aid training and the conducting evacuation drills. Eligible activities include training and purchase and deployment of emergency response supplies including first aid kits. This sub-component will expand upon the ongoing community training program managed by the IPCU, which is carried out in collaboration with AFAD, to raise awareness and enhance preparedness for disaster risks and has already trained over 9,200 volunteers on a range of emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction topics since 2020. Priority for training and equipment will be given to groups identified to have increased vulnerability, such as women, disabled persons, and the elderly. The Project will also finance training and employment opportunities in brush clearing, creating wildfire fuel breaks (e.g., digging trenches), and tree planting to prevent the spread of wildfires in peri-urban areas and will hire community members to clear underbrush prone to wildfires, dig trenches to prevent the spread of wildfires, and plant fire-resistant species in peri-urban areas adjacent to forests; priority will be given to unemployed youth and women.Component 2- Enhancing the Resilience of Critical Public Buildings and Facilities (US$445 million)This component will finance the design, supervision, and reconstruction of approximately 50 buildings in 24 locations, comprising schools, dormitories, elderly care facilities, recreation facilities, community centers, and other eligible public buildings to the highest resilience standards against seismic and climate hazards, such as extreme heat, floods, and wildfire risks, to ensure life safety. Although currently not envisioned, resilient retrofitting and construction of new facilities are also eligible expenses under this component. This is aligned with the Istanbul Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan which identifies the ability of resilient urban infrastructure to withstand climate impacts as an adaptation measure, thus signaling its contribution to reducing the underlying causes of climate change on a systemic level. This sub-component will finance the demolishing and reconstruction of previously existing social infrastructure with the purpose of being rebuilt in a manner that ensures resilience in everyday use and creates safe shelter spaces in post-disaster situations. The goal is to ensure safety before, during and after disasters, providing secure temporary shelters with sufficient/scalable sanitary spaces to receive injured and displaced people from nearby communities. These buildings will have independent and resilient water, energy, and communications systems to remain fully operational in the event of disasters. All buildings under this component will be built according to Turkiye's Class B Energy Performance Standard. This component will also finance the procurement of goods and services for self-sufficiency and green measures for existing critical buildings that have already been assessed as structurally resilient per 2018 Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC-2018). All infrastructure financed under this component will a