How rapid financing helped Madagascar recover after a devastating cyclone

Lydia Anita, a 38-year-old mother of three from Toamasina, still remembers the sound of the roof of her home lifting away.

As Cyclone Gezani swept across Madagascar's eastern coast in February 2026, she gathered her children beneath a table, while a pregnant family member remained seated on a chair for lack of space, shielding herself with a tarpaulin as winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour ripped the roof from the house and rain poured inside.

By morning, the family had lost almost everything they owned. Only 10 days after the cyclone Fytia hit Madagascar, the Cyclone Gezani claimed 59 lives, severely damaged the homes of 423,000 people, basic infrastructures and 286 schools, disrupting learning for more than 64,000 students across Madagascar.

Like thousands of other families, Lydia faced the same question: Where do you begin when an entire community has been turned upside down?

When recovery can't wait

The first days after a disaster often shape everything that follows.

For Madagascar, that recovery began almost immediately when the government activated the Regional Emergency Preparedness and Access to Inclusive Recovery (REPAIR) program in the aftermath of the cyclone, enabling it to quickly mobilize pre-arranged funding for emergency response and recovery. Within days, resources were flowing to affected communities, helping deliver emergency building materials, launch recovery activities, and provide financial assistance to families.

REPAIR is a World Bank Group program implemented by African Risk Capacity Limited (ARC Ltd)—the financial arm of the African Risk Capacity Group— and supported by the Global Shield Financing Facility. The program helps countries access pre-arranged financing ahead of climate shocks so governments can respond faster, and communities can begin rebuilding sooner.

The Malagasy Ministry of Economy and Finance, particularly the Directorate General of the Treasury, also contributed to the swift disbursement of REPAIR funds to end beneficiaries, notably by determining the allocation of REPAIR resources and facilitating the direct transfer of funds through several pre-identified delivery channels.

Within 7 days of the government's request, REPAIR had mobilized more than US$15 million—including US$11 million through the Fonds d'Intervention pour le Développement (FID) and US$4.58 million through the National Contingency Fund (FNC). The funding supported immediate relief and early recovery efforts, helping affected communities begin rebuilding almost immediately. REPAIR resources were complemented by the activation of the Contingent Emergency Response Project from the World Bank Group, and builds on decades of engagement of the World Bank Group with the FID.

Why jobs matter after a disaster

Rebuilding after the cyclone wasn't only about repairing homes, schools, and roads. It also meant restoring jobs and livelihoods so people could begin earning an income again.

One of REPAIR's first actions was to launch Cash-for-Work activities across affected communities that benefited 40,000 households. Residents were paid to clear debris, clean neighborhoods, rehabilitate damaged infrastructure, and help restore essential public facilities. At the same time, local transport companies were contracted to remove debris, creating additional work for local businesses.

The approach addressed two immediate needs:

Families received temporary income while helping rebuild the places where they lived. Schools reopened more quickly. Hospitals became operational again. Local economic activity began returning alongside the physical recovery.

For the World Bank Group, this reflects a broader principle: creating opportunities to work is one of the fastest ways to help communities recover after a crisis.

Cash-for-Work participants received compensation for 20 days of work and the broader recovery package included food supplies and 1.5 kg of seeds, with support targeting nearly 57% of Toamasina's population.

REPAIR also provided direct cash transfers, emergency kits, and food assistance to help families meet their most urgent needs in the weeks following the cyclone. Beyond financial support, the program encouraged communities to take an active role in the recovery.

Through these efforts, more than 400,000 people received financial or in-kind assistance as communities worked to restore daily life.

After the storm: rebuilding a community

Lydia joined the REPAIR program's Cash-for-Work activities to help rebuild her neighborhood and later helped lead the community's recovery efforts. Working side by side, neighbors cleared debris, restored public spaces, and strengthened the sense of solidarity that had carried them through the storm.

Within weeks, the impact could be seen across Toamasina. Children returned to repaired classrooms. Roads became passable. Public spaces reopened. Families earned temporary income while helping rebuild their lives.

“What stands out most to me is that the program helped restore a spirit of solidarity in our community,” Lydia said. “We didn't simply receive aid, they became active participants in their own recovery, working together to rebuild their neighborhood and regain confidence in the future.”

Just weeks after Cyclone Gezani, schools and other public buildings damaged by the storm had been rehabilitated, helping communities restore essential services and return to daily life.

What can other countries learn from Madagascar's recovery?

Madagascar's experience illustrates why disaster preparedness begins long before a storm makes landfall.

Programs like REPAIR combine pre-arranged financing with national delivery systems so support can reach communities quickly when disasters strike. The approach depends on close coordination between governments, local implementing agencies, development partners, and donors, helping countries respond faster while strengthening their ability to recover from future shocks.

“With REPAIR, the World Bank Group is helping countries strengthen their ability to respond to climate shocks before they become crises,” said Caroline Cerruti, Lead Financial Sector Specialist and REPAIR Regional Lead at the World Bank Group. “Madagascar's experience shows how pre-arranged financing can help communities recover more quickly while building resilience for the future.”

Recovery starts with preparedness. Months before Cyclone Gezani, Madagascar completed its first REPAIR crisis simulation exercise, bringing together more than 50 experts to strengthen coordination, disaster preparedness, and financial resilience ahead of the cyclone season.

Toamasina's recovery illustrates a broader World Bank Group commitment to helping countries recover faster, stronger, and more resilient after disasters.

Lydia's story reflects what that approach can achieve: when financing reaches communities quickly, people are empowered to lead their own recovery.