Africa | World Bank

Angola - Municipal Health Service Strengthening (Revitalizacao) Project

Kenya - Enhancing Agricultural Productivity Project

Benin - Health System Performance Project

Mauritius - Infrastructure Project : procurement plan

Tanzania - Housing Finance Project

Sudan - Southern Sudan Water Supply and Sanitation Project

Africa - Danish Trust Fund - Integrated Land and Water Management for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change (ILWAC) Project

Environmental and social management framework

The objective of the Land Husbandry Water Harvesting, and Hillside Irrigation (LWH) Project for Rwanda is to increase the commercialization and productivity of hillside agriculture targeted for development. Negative impacts include: loss of soil and vegetation (including loss of productive soils due to borrowing of earth), soil contamination due to disposal of spoil soils, spread of waste during drains repair, cropland degradation (due to soil erosion and reduction of soil fertility), siltation of water bodies, water quality, natural habitat destruction or degradation, loss of biodiversity, and soil salinity. Mitigation measures include: 1) institution of soil control measures during construction is necessary; 2) the irrigation canal that conveys water from the dam serves primarily areas just downstream of the dam; 3) in less than a 100m from the dam toe, branching valleys from the main dam valley contribute water for downstream users; 4) LWH should support the introduction of fish in the dam as a strategy for reducing the breeding of mosquitoes in order to contain malaria spread; 5) measurement of rainfall will be helpful for interpretation of pore measurement and seepage development in earth dam; and 6) LWH should fence the reservoir area, erect warning signs and employ a security guard to ensure that children do not access the dam reservoir for swimming.

Burundi - Finance and Private Sector Development Project

Guidelines for managing small dams in Rwanda

Tanzania - Housing Finance Project : environmental and social management framework

The objective of the Housing Finance Project for Tanzania is to expand the access to affordable housing finance for the purchase, construction or upgrading of residential housing. Negative measures include: land degradation; lack of accessible, good quality water for both urban and rural inhabitants; loss of wildlife habitats and biodiversity; environmental pollution; deterioration of aquatic systems; and deforestation. Mitigation measures include: a) use sand from existing borrow pits; b) use of equipments with low noise; c) work will be undertaken to help develop a vibrant private developer market catering to the housing needs of different segments of the income distribution. A range of measures will be including improving the availability of serviced land for residential development, and construction finance for developers, promoting the use lower cost construction strategies, and regulatory measures concerning building codes and planning bylaws; and d) use of construction material from forest products such as timber.

Kenya - Electricity Expansion Project

Seychelles - Interim strategy note : chairman's concluding remarks

Burundi - Financial and Private Sector Development Project

Congo, Democratic Republic of - Multi-modal Transport Project

Kenya - Enhancing Agricultural Productivity Project

Nigeria - State Governance and Capacity Building Project

Medupi Power Plant and associated infrastructure : Delta-Epsilon 6 x 765KV transmission power lines - environmental impact report volume 4, maps

The objective of the Eskom Power Investment Support Project is to enable Eskom South Africa to enhance its power supply and energy security in an efficient and sustainable manner so as to support both economic growth objectives and South Africa's long term carbon mitigation strategy. Negative measures include: impact on water quality, impact on terrestrial vegetation, impact on fauna, air quality, noise, and waste management. Mitigation measures include: a) encourage the construction contractor to employ local people as far as is reasonably practical and encourage the contractor to transport them daily to and from site. This will reduce solid and liquid waste production and water demand at the site camps; b) locate construction site yards, concrete batching plants, construction worker camps, and other noisy fixed facilities well away from noise sensitive areas; c) ensure proper maintenance procedures in place for vehicles and equipment; d) deposit solid waste in containers and dispose at municipal waste disposal sites regularly; e) ensure measures to contain spills readily available on site (spill kits); and f) avoid areas of pristine, untransformed grassland habitat for the establishment of construction and labor camps and topsoil stockpiles.

Wind energy facility and associated infrastructure : Western Cape Province

The project Secondary Educ. Development Program II is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-22T05:00:00.000Z

The project Secondary Educ. Development Program II is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

World Bank’s Fund for Poorest Countries Delivers Record Support during Global Crisis

2009-11-20T20:02:50.000Z

Contact:

In Washington: Angela Furtado (202) 473-1909

Afurtado@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, November 20, 2009 – World Bank management and representatives of 45 donor and 12 borrowing countries today concluded a three-day review of the performance of the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the 79 poorest countries, that has delivered record support during the global economic crisis.

The three-day review of the 15^th replenishment period (IDA15), which covers funding from July 2008 to June 2011, included discussions on IDA’s policy and financial framework, the impact of the crisis on low-income countries, and measures to ensure swifter and more effective support to countries affected by crises. In particular, the group advanced a proposal for the creation of a Crisis Response Window in IDA15.

“We are very encouraged by donors’ and partners’ recognition of IDA’s overall performance and effective response to the global economic crisis,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “Although IDA operates under a fixed, three-year financial envelope, we have leaned forward, including through front-loaded and fast-tracked assistance, to scale up support to poor countries severely hit by the crisis. As a result, IDA’s lending commitments in the course of IDA15 have hit record levels.”

Following recent calls from the G-20 and the Development Committee, the Mid-Term Review of IDA15 advanced a proposal for the creation of a dedicated crisis response window in IDA to assist low income countries mitigate the impact of the global economic crisis.

“The financial gap created by the global crisis not only jeopardizes the progress made by countries, such as Rwanda, whose governments have been working hard to implement important reforms, it also reduces our chances of achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. A crisis response window in IDA15 will help us mitigate the short-term impacts of crises without sacrificing long-term efforts,” said James Musoni, Rwanda’s Finance and Economic Planning Minister, who participated in discussions about the impact of the crisis on low-income countries.

“We are delighted by the support of donors and partners for the creation of a crisis window within IDA15,” said Zoellick. “We will now be submitting the proposal to the IDA Board of Directors for approval.”

“While there are signs of recovery in developed countries, the risk of deepening poverty remains real in IDA countries.” said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Bank Managing Director and Chair of the IDA15 Mid-Term Review. The crisis response window in IDA15 would provide additional funding for the protection of core spending on health, education, safety nets, infrastructure and agriculture in IDA-only countries.

Record Lending and Effective Response to the Crisis

In the first 15 months of IDA15 (July 2008-October 2009), IDA commitments reached a record level of $16.9 billion; a 50 percent increase over the comparable period in IDA14. This reflects a strong IDA15 replenishment size (which increased by 30 percent to $42 billion) as well as IDA’s front-loading and fast-tracking of operations in response to the financial crisis. IDA’s disbursements in the same period were close to $14 billion, with a sharp increase in the first four months of FY10 (July 2009-October 2009) when they reached $4.6 billion compared to $2.4 billion a year earlier.

Africa continued to be IDA’s largest recipient, with 55 percent of total commitments and 46 percent of total disbursements. South Asia came in second, accounting for about a third of commitments and disbursements.

-#-

For more information on IDA and access to the technical papers prepared

for the IDA15 Mid-Term Review, please visit: www.worldbank.org/ida

World Bank Vice President for Africa to Visit Kenya

2009-11-20T19:57:03.000Z

Contacts:

In Nairobi:

Peter Warutere

254-20- 3226444

pwarutere@worldbank.org

Nairobi, November 19, 2009— The World Bank is pleased to announce the official visit to Kenya of Ms. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice President of the Africa Region, World Bank. Ms. Ezekwesili will be in Kenya for four days starting November 22, 2009. This will be her second visit to Kenya, following on her first visit in December 2008.

Ms. Ezekwesili will consult with senior Government officials and a wide cross-section of Kenyans on the World Bank’s new Country Partnership Strategy for Kenya due to be launched next year. . She will listen to the development challenges facing Kenya and explore avenues for strengthening partnerships to spur economic growth in Kenya and the East Africa Region.

Her visit will also help give an impetus to initiatives in intra-African trade and regional integration, climate change mitigation, and approaches aimed at improving incomes for the most vulnerable Kenyans.

In addition to following-up on the discussions she had during her December 2008 visit with President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Minister for Finance and other Senior Government officials., Ms. Ezekwesili will meet with parliamentarians and representatives of the private sector, civil society, media, youth and women’s groups, and visit World Bank financed energy and infrastructure projects.

The Bank's portfolio in Kenya comprises 16 projects with a total commitment of over US$1.4 billion in all key development areas, including infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, natural resource management, health and education. The Bank is also financing an additional five regional projects in infrastructure, trade, agriculture and the environment with a commitment of US$320 million for Kenya.

Ms. Ezekwesili was appointed Vice President of the Bank in May 2007. Prior to joining the Bank, she held various senior positions within the Government of Nigeria, including Minister of Education and Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

Promoting Human-Wildlife Coexistence: Botswana Shows the Way

2009-11-20T19:29:45.000Z

Contacts:

In Pretoria:

Mmenyane Seoposengwe

+27-12-348-8895

mseoposengwe@worldbank.org

In Washington:

Francois Gouahinga

202-473-0696

fgouahinga@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, November 20, 2009 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors yesterday approved a US$5.5 million grant to the Government of Botswana for an innovative program designed to enhance human wildlife coexistence by engaging communities in managing natural resources and protecting biodiversity in northern Botswana. The project is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the World Bank.

Preventing human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a key sustainable development challenge in wildlife-rich countries such as Botswana. For example, when large, roving pachyderm populations travel along migratory corridors they can damage crops and livestock in subsistence farming areas. Botswana currently spends $6.8 million annually to compensate farmers for crop and livestock losses.

“There are many development benefits to be gained by fostering human-wildlife coexistence,” said Ruth Kagia, World Bank Country Director for Botswana. “By engaging communities, we are not only laying the foundations for sustainable rural development in biodiversity-rich areas but also helping to protect Botswana’s unique patrimony of wildlife for posterity.”

Left unmanaged, HWC poses one of the major threats to the survival of elephants and large predator species such as lions.

The project will support focused interventions in 13 villages, with a combined population of 12,000 people, located along three primary wetlands in northern Botswana. The project areas are situated in demarcated wildlife management areas that have been established to serve as migratory corridors for facilitating wildlife movements between the network of parks and reserves. Botswana’s unique environment and wildlife is an important source of tourism revenues estimated at $1.6 billion annually.

“This is long-term sustainable development in action. I applaud the Government of Botswana for their dedication and foresight in addressing human-wildlife coexistence,” said Inger Andersen, World Bank Director for Sustainable Development in the Africa Region.

Specifically, the project seeks to:

· Enable 1,500 households to implement proven elephant-restraining techniques such as chili-pepper deterrence;

· Strengthen eco-tourism related competencies of communities living in the project areas;

· Improve extension service delivery for human-wildlife coexistence interventions by the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) by providing training in strategic and operations management, mobilizing communities for proactive wildlife conflict interventions, and setting up geographical information system equipment and technical support, and

· Implement a proactive communications strategy to engage stakeholders and disseminate project-related information for community engagement.

“When designing the project, we consulted extensively with communities and benefited from their knowledge,” said Juan Gaviria, World Bank Sector Leader for Sustainable Development. “Our interventions are focused on innovative and proactive human-wildlife coexistence techniques with proven potential.”

“When local communities are involved in addressing human wildlife conflict they are better positioned to take advantage of employment and income-generating opportunities offered from wildlife related tourism,” adds Karsten Feuerriegel, a World Bank biodiversity specialist and Project Leader located in Pretoria, South Africa.

# # #

For more information:

www.worldbank.org/afr

www.thegef.org

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

Malawi: Community-Based Rural Land Development Project

2009-11-19T21:53:40.000Z

WASHINGTON, November 19, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

IDA Grant: US$10 million equivalent

Project ID: P115226

Project Description: Additional financing for the Community-Based Rural Land Development Project aims to increase the incomes of about 15,000 poor rural families by implementing a decentralized, community-based and voluntary approach to land reform in four pilot districts in southern Malawi. The approach to land reform piloted under the project includes (i) voluntary acquisition by communities of land sold by willing estate owners, transferred to communities by government, or donated by private individuals; (ii) on-farm development, including the establishment of shelter, and the purchase of basic inputs and necessary advisory services; and (iii) land administration, viz. the regularization, titling, and registration of beneficiaries' property rights in land.

Media Contact

Francois Gouahinga

(202) 473-0696

fgouahinga@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P075247

Botswana: Northern Botswana Human Wildlife Coexistence Project

2009-11-19T21:48:25.000Z

WASHINGTON, November 19, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

IDA Grant: US$5.5 million equivalent

Project ID: P095617

Project Description: The Northern Botswana Human Wildlife Coexistence Project aims to mitigate human-wildlife conflict through proactive prevention interventions in selected rural communities in Northern Botswana, and to offer local people in the project areas employment choices in wildlife-based tourism.

Media Contact

Francois Gouahinga

(202) 473-0696

fgouahinga@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P095617

Seminário sobre o Programa de Diagnósticos Nacionais sobre Infraestructuras em África (AICD)

2009-11-19T19:58:15.000Z

Contactos:
Rafael Saúte
Tel: 21482944
Email : rsaute@worldbank.org
Boris Utria
Email: butria@worldbank.org

Maputo, 19 de Novembro de 2009 -- O Banco Mundial realiza hoje, em parceria com o Governo de Moçambique, o seminário sobre o Programa de Diagnósticos Nacionais sobre Infraestructuras em África.

O Programa de Diagnósticos Nacionais sobre Infrastructuras em Africa (Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic - AICD) é um programa estabelecido especificamente pelo Banco Mundial para expandir o conhecimento colectivo sobre as infraestructuras em África. O AICD tem feito um levantamento de dados e informações sem precedente sobre a situação de infraestructuras, incluindo energia, tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TICs), irrigação, transporte, água e saneamento no continente africano. A análise realizada inclui dados históricos e tendências do investimento, novos investimentos requeridos e indicadores de desempenho. O AICD já cobriu 24 países, incluindo Moçambique, e continua a expandir para cobrir um total de 40 países em África.

“Em Moçambique, tal como em varias partes do continente Africano, o Banco Mundial tem estado a providenciar apoios consideráveis da sua ajuda ao desenvolvimento para o sector de infrastructuras. Contudo, não obstante a consistência desse apoio ao logo do tempo, muito ainda precisa ser feito com respeito a essa área.” Disse Luiz Tavares, Representante Residente Interino do Banco Mundial em Moçambique. “Existe um paralelo entre o estado das infrastructuras e o crescimento económico e a produtividade de negócios.” Concluio.

“Moçambique precisa melhorar a eficiência operacional dos gastos em infrastructuras, ao mesmo tempo que aumenta os níveis de financiamento.” Disse Boris Utria, Chefe Sectorial do Departamento de Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Banco Mundial. Acrescentanto que de acordo com o estudo: “ Moçambique precisa gastar cerca de 1.7 bilhões de USD por ano em infrastructuras durante uma década para chegar ao patamar dos restantes países em desenvolvimento, contra os cerca de 0.7 bilhões gastos actualmente.”

***

O programa AICD surgiu da cimeira de Gleneagles de 2005 e da subsequente criação do Consórcio para Infraestructura Para África(ICA). O AICD está a ser implementado pelo Banco Mundial em representação de um comité de pilotagem inter-institucional que representa a União Africana (UA), a Nova Parceira para o Desenvolvimento da Africa (NEDAP), as Comunidades Económicas Regionais da África, o Banco Africano para o Desenvolvimento (BAD) e o Banco para o Desenvolvimento da África Austral, os principais doadores dos sectores de infraestucturas. O financiamento para o AICD é fornecido através de um fundo especial cujos principais doadores são o Departamento para o Desenvolvimento Internacional (Reino Unido), a Facilidade para Assesoria sobre Infraestructuras Público-Privada, a Agência Francesa para o Desenvolvimento, a Comissão Europea, KfW e o Banco Mundial.

Os principais resultados ao nível continental do program AICD serão publicados num relatório semial em Novembro de 2009, juntamente com o estabelecimento de um portal da internet que dará acesso á todos os relatórios preparatórios e bancos de dados e modelos do AICD. No preâmbulo ao lançamento da publicação e do portal da internet, estão sendo realizados uma série de seminários nacionais para partilhar os resultados do AICD nesses países específicos e poder corroborar esses resultados com os especialistas e “policy markers” nacionais e outros agentes públicos e privados interessados em infraestructuras.

O Seminário dará aos participantes uma visão de conjunto dos resultados principais do AICD ao nível da Africa como um todo, e dará a oportunidade para discutir e influenciar as conclusões específicas que serão incluidas no relatório final do AICD para o caso específico de Moçambique. Um dos principais benefícios do AICD é a possibilidade de comparar a situação das infraestructuras em Moçambique com a situação global em Africa assim como de outros países específicos na região.

As questões principais apresentadas e discutidas nos seminários do AICD com relação a África incluem: (i) Como as infrastructuras contribuem para o crescimento económico em Africa; (ii) Recursos necessários para cobrir o deficit (or a deficiência) de infrastructura em Africa; (iii) O tamanho dos deficits de financiamento? e, (iv)até que nível as reformas institucionais e de políticas podem ajudar a fechar esses deficits de financiamento.

As questões principais a serem debatidas no seminário de Moçambique incluem: (i) Como se compara a situação das infraestructuras de Moçambique com o resto de Africa; (ii) Quais os principais pontos fracos e fortes, em termos de infraeestructuras de Moçambique; (iii) Que progressos verificados nos últimos anos; (iv) Qual o estado da agenda de reformas sobre as infraestructuras; Que opções tem o país para fazer face aos deficits de infraestructuras?

Para mais sobre o Banco Mundial em Moçambique, visite: www.worldbank.org
Para mais sobre o Banco Mundial em África, visite : www.worldbank.org/mozambique

More Funds for Malawi’s Community-Based Rural Land Development Project

2009-11-19T18:32:03.000Z

Contacts
In Washington:
Francois Gouahinga
(+1) 202 473 0696
fgouahinga@worldbank.org

In Lilongwe: Zeria Banda (+265-1) 770611
zbanda@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, November 19, 2009 – The World Bank has granted Malawi an additional US$10 million for the Community-Based Rural Land Development Project (CBRLDP), and extended the project for another two years.

The CBRLDP, popularly known as Kudzigulira Malo (vernacular for self-acquisition of land) started in 2004 with a US$27 million grant and was due to close on December 31, 2009, but the World Bank Board of Directors today approved an extension to September 2011. Since 2004 the Government of Malawi has been piloting the project to introduce policies and strategies that will improve efficiency of land use by bringing idle land into production through a “transparent, voluntary, legal and resource-supported approach” to land redistribution through efforts that are market-assisted, community-driven, and focused on rural areas, where poverty is most pervasive.

Why more time and money?

The extension and additional financing have been granted to enable the relocation of about 1000 households who were part of the 15,000 beneficiary households targeted by the project. So far the project has relocated 14,000 households from the densely populated Thyolo and Mulanje districts to Machinga and Mangochi districts. The additional financing will also cover complementary services such as extension and other capacity building services to enable all project beneficiaries to use the land acquired productively. A portion of the additional financing will cover activities in the recently extended project area in the districts of Balaka and Ntcheu. The project was extended to these districts following the shortage of land in the original receiving districts of Mangochi and Machinga.

Apart from directly servicing the project beneficiaries, the additional financing and extension will enable the Government to improve land administration issues. “The additional financing will strengthen land registries at district level and surveying and registration services,” says Hardwick Tchale, the Bank’s Task Team Leader for the project. He adds, “Modernization of land registries and land administration would improve services and governance and ease of access to land by investors, while reducing the amount of time it takes to register a land transfer.” This is a valuable component for Malawi at a time when Doing Business indicators show that registration of property, including land, is one of the problems slowing business in Malawi.

Part of the additional financing will be utilized to support activities aimed at resolving policy issues that hinder the development of land markets. Important among these are collection of land rent, introduction of a land tax on freehold land, and enactment of the new Land Law. The additional financing will also assist in computerization of land records, which will facilitate the establishment of an efficient land information system which is required to support the development of land markets, once the land law is passed.

The Government also intends to scale up the program nationwide, and it views the World Bank’s continuing support as critical over the next two years while plans for the scale-up are finalized. “The additional financing will assist in this endeavor by providing an objective evaluation of the pilot and drawing lessons to inform the design of a scaled-up program, including options for resettlement and technical, environmental and social dimensions of the program,” says Mr. Fletcher Zenengeya, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Lands.

Achievements and challenges

The Bank Board approved additional financing for the CBRLDP in the backdrop of a number of key achievements. Each of the resettled households has been allocated 2.2 hectares of land compared to original holdings of 0.45ha. Yields of maize, the main staple food, improved from an estimate of about 962kg/ha at baseline to 2,269 kg/ha, through a combination of improved access to land and input support provided through the project’s farm development grant. Tobacco yield has also improved from about 519 kg/ha at baseline to 1,390 kg/ha.

“As a result of larger holdings and improved productivity, food insecurity among project beneficiaries has been reduced and annual household incomes have improved from an average of US$84 to US$235 per household,” says Chrissie Kamwendo, the Bank’s Acting Country Manager for Malawi. “This can surely be a model for other countries in Southern Africa.”

Of the beneficiary groups relocated so far, 89% now have land titles. Not all have land titles processed largely because of capacity problems relating to land administration in general and land surveying in particular. One of the major challenges in land administration in Malawi is the manual processing of transactions which slows reforms. The legal and regulatory environment is also weak and the additional financing will help address these challenges.

The project NELSAP Water Resources Development Program is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-19T05:00:00.000Z

The project NELSAP Water Resources Development Program is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project UGANDA- EASTERN AFRICA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY PROJECT APL1A has changed to Active

2009-11-19T05:00:00.000Z

The project UGANDA- EASTERN AFRICA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY PROJECT APL1A has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objectives of the Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Adaptable Program Loan 1A Project for Uganda are to: (i) enhance regional specialization in agricultural research; (ii) enhance regional collaboration in agricultural training and dissemination; and (iii) facilitate increased sharing of agricultural information, knowledge, and technology across national boundaries. There are four components to the project. The first component of the project is strengthening the regional center of excellence. This component aims at strengthening the institutional capacity that is needed to establish the Regional Center of Excellence (RCoE) in cassava. The second component of the project is support to technology generation, training and dissemination. This component will support research activities developed within the RCoE, as well as training and dissemination subprojects. The latter will have a regional focus and use participatory strategies and mechanisms to train researchers, extensionists and farmers in the latest innovations, and to scale up application of technologies. The third component of the project is improved availability of planting material, seeds, and livestock germplasm. This component will support multiplication of planting material, seeds and breeds, strengthen the enabling environment for regional exchange and trade, and improve the capacity of producers and traders. The fourth component of the project is project coordination and management. This component will finance management and coordination at the national and regional levels.

The project Mauritius Fourth Development Policy Loan is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-18T05:00:00.000Z

The project Mauritius Fourth Development Policy Loan is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Fourth Trade and Competitiveness Development Policy Loan Program operation for Mauritius supports reforms which respond to two major challenges: (i) the 'triple trade shock' of trade preference erosion and high oil prices, and (ii) the transition from low wage, low skill sugar and apparel exporter to innovative, knowledge and skill based services economy. In the mid-1990s a new vision began taking shape in Mauritius of a higher value added, more diversified, skill and knowledge intensive economy. To realize this, planners recognized they will need to invest massively in human capital and infrastructure, make better use of advanced technologies and reform the regulatory environment to harness the creativity of the private sector. Yet, little was achieved in these areas during the decade which followed. Instead, trend growth slowed as new sectors failed to generate hoped for levels of output and employment while traditional ones lost ground to increasing competition in their export markets. The miracle years of the 1980s receded into history. Although Fourth Development Policy Loan (DPL4) is the last operation of the series, dialogue around substantive policy issues is maintained and the Government has requested a continuation of the DPL engagement, which is currently being prepared. There are a number of specific areas for deepening the existing policy dialogue through a new DPL series, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) reforms, trade regulatory environment, public debt management, investment climate reforms, rationalization of social protection, to name a few. In this process, strengthening coordination with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be essential to improve delivery of development assistance, particularly given the availability of resources from both institutions for future lending. It must be noted; however, that future World Bank (WB) lending in Mauritius as part of a new DPL programmatic series will be subject to the WB capacity to lend in the country.

World Bank Announces Landmark Policy on Access to Information

2009-11-17T22:22:13.000Z

Contacts:

Geetanjali Chopra

1 (202) 473-0243

gchopra@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2009 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the Bank’s new policy on access to information which positions the Bank as a transparency leader among international institutions. The policy was informed by extensive external and internal consultations held in 33 countries and through the Bank’s external website. It reflects the views of member countries, civil society organizations, academia, parliamentarians, media, the private sector, international organizations, donor agencies, and Bank staff.

The new policy represents a fundamental shift in the Bank’s approach to disclosure of information – moving from an approach that spells out what documents it can disclose to one under which the Bank will disclose any information in its possession that is not on a list of exceptions. The policy statement will be finalized in December 2009 and become effective on July 1, 2010. A progress report will be presented to the Board by the end of 2011.

“This paradigm shift underscores the Bank’s commitment to transparency and accountability and recognizes their fundamental importance to development and to achieving the Bank’s mission of overcoming poverty and improving development effectiveness,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick.

“I am personally grateful to all of the civil society organizations, government officials, and citizens of our member countries who contributed their ideas and perspectives as we developed this new policy through a global consultation process. We have collectively come up with a policy that is in line with international best practice and opens up the development process by fostering public ownership, partnership, and participation in World Bank-supported operations from a wide range of stakeholders,” he added.

The policy on access to information provides for the disclosure of more information than ever before – on projects under preparation, projects under implementation, analytic and advisory activities (AAA), and Board proceedings. This information will be easily accessible on the World Bank’s external website and available through the InfoShop, public information centers, and the World Bank Group Archives.

At the same time, the policy strikes a balance between maximum access to information and respect for the confidentiality of information pertaining to its clients, shareholders, employees, and other parties.

Recognizing that the sensitivity of some information declines over time, the policy provides for the eventual declassification and disclosure of restricted information over a period of five, 10 or 20 years, depending upon information type.

“Openness promotes inclusiveness, engagement with stakeholders and public oversight of Bank-supported operations,” said Jeff Gutman, Vice President, Operations Policy and Country Services Vice Presidency. “This in turn will strengthen participation in the design and implementation of projects and policies and improve development outcomes,” he added.

The new policy includes clear procedures for responding to requests for information, as well as an appeals mechanism for requesters who believe that the Bank has unreasonably denied access to information that should be publicly available. This appeals mechanism includes review by an independent body consisting of international experts.

Over the next several months, the Bank will put in place measures that will enable effective and efficient implementation of the new access to information policy. Such measures include staff training; improving information management and technology systems; developing an effective document tracking system; strengthening the Archives Unit, the InfoShop, and the public information function in country offices; and establishing associated service standards.

The final policy statement incorporating comments from the Board will be issued in December 2009.

-#-

Background

Over the past 15 years, the Bank’s policy on information disclosure has evolved in response to changes in the Bank’s business, the growing expectations of stakeholders, and the Bank’s continued commitment to enhancing transparency about its operations. The Executive Directors and Bank Management have periodically reviewed the policy and expanded its scope: for example, in 1993, 2001, and 2005.

For more information, please visit: www.worldbank.org

World Bank Approves US$30 Million for Cassava Improvement in Uganda

2009-11-17T16:45:00.000Z

Contacts
In Kampala: Steven Shalita

+256-414-302 236

sshalita@worldbank.org

In Washington: Herbert Boh

+1-202-473-3548

hboh@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 17, 2009 -- The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a $30 million International Development Association (IDA) credit* to strengthen agricultural productivity and growth in Uganda, with a special focus in researching and improving the cassava crop.

Uganda is the fourth country after Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania to receive support under the first phase of the Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (EAAPP). Earlier in June, the World Bank approved US$90 million for the four countries to scale up regional cooperation in generation of technology, training, and dissemination programs for regional priority commodities.

“Agriculture accounts for 25 percent of the gross domestic product in Uganda and remains the backbone for manufacturing and export growth, providing income and employment to over 70 percent of the population. It is therefore important to improve the agricultural technology systems in order to deliver benefits to food security in the short run and also boost longer term economic growth,” said Kundhavi Kadiresan, World Bank Country Manager for Uganda.

Under the EAAPP, a Regional Centre of Excellence for cassava will be established at Uganda’s Namulonge Research Institute, with similar efforts in the other countries focusing on rice, wheat, and dairy as priority commodities identified by the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA).

“Together with Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya, and with the facilitation of ASARECA, Uganda will develop and lead joint programs geared toward improving the productivity and profitability of cassava production and processing,” said John Murray McIntire, World Bank Country Director for Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.

This project will complement agricultural investment programs that are being implemented in Uganda and supported by IDA and other Development Partners to achieve greater food security through increased agricultural productivity and farm incomes.

For more information about World Bank’s activities in Uganda visit:

http://www.worldbank.org/uganda

For more information on the World Bank’s work in sub-Saharan Africa visit: http://www.worldbank.org/afr

*The credit is provided on standard International Development Association (IDA) terms, with a commitment fee of 0.5 percent, a service charge of 0.75 percent over a 40 year period of maturity which includes a 10-year grace period.

The project Eskom Power Investment Support Project is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-14T05:00:00.000Z

The project Eskom Power Investment Support Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Emergency Monrovia Urban Sanitation Project (EMUS) has changed to Active

2009-11-14T05:00:00.000Z

The project Emergency Monrovia Urban Sanitation Project (EMUS) has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Second Additional Financing to NSAP - Food Crisis Response has changed to Active

2009-11-14T05:00:00.000Z

The project Second Additional Financing to NSAP - Food Crisis Response has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Second Additional Grant for the Co-financing of the National Social Action Project (NSAP) for Sierra Leone is to assist war-affected or otherwise vulnerable communities to restore infrastructure and services, build local capacity for collective action, and assist vulnerable households to access temporary employment opportunities, with priority given to areas not previously serviced by the government, newly accessible areas (those which were under rebel control until January 2002), food insecure areas, and the most vulnerable population groups within those areas. The grants will finance the costs associated with the continuation and expansion of Cash for Work (CfW) program responding to food price increases. The CfW program was launched under the first co-financing for NSAP from the Food Price Crisis Response Trust Fund (FPCR TF), approved on August 18, 2008. The program is designed to ease the burden of the price increases on the most vulnerable populations and provide households with incremental resources to cope, helping them to avoid reverting to adverse mechanisms that will diminish their asset and human capital base. To-date the program has shown good progress towards its development objectives, with 665,280 person-days of employment generated, rehabilitation of 260 km of roads, and the development of 85 acres of arable swamps and woodland.

The project Sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC6) has changed to Active

2009-11-14T05:00:00.000Z

The project Sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC6) has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit Program (PRSC-6) is an integral part of the Bank's strategy to support the implementation of Mozambique's 'Second Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty' (known as PARPA II by its Portuguese acronym), aided by the performance assessment framework (PAF) agreed by the government and the nineteen external partners (the G19) providing general budget support (GBS). While the PRSC operations will provide financial support for implementing the whole PARPA, they are to be disbursed against the upfront completion of a number of specific reform measures identified in the PAF. The operation is the first in a new PRSC series of three annual single-tranche operations to be delivered over FY10-12. This program document also provides an indication of the triggers for the subsequent two operations in the PRSC series. The PRSC series is a key component of the country partnership strategy (CPS) approved by the Board in May 2007, and closely aligned to the government program. Bank support to the PARPA II is through the FY08-11 CPS. As government policies and budget are the key instruments for implementing the PARPA, the Bank is committed to supporting and aligning with the budget process. The indicative lending scenario of the CPS envisages programmatic support through consecutive PRSC, with a focus on supporting Mozambique's efforts in increasing accountability and public voice and fostering sustainable and broad-based growth. In line with the government program, and as projects ('mega-projects') reflected in the CPS, the program supported by the PRSC series recognizes the centrality of the growth agenda and the importance of enhanced public financial management reforms.

World Bank and Partners Award $4.8 Million to 26 Innovative Ideas to Save the Planet

2009-11-13T16:30:32.000Z

Contacts:

In Washington:

Edith Wilson, +1-202-473-1104

ewilson1@worldbank.org

Jonathan Daly, +1-202-458-2624

jdaly1@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, November 13, 2009—Close to $5 million in grant money has been awarded to 26 innovative climate adaptation projects, through the 2009 Global Development Marketplace, a global competitive grant program to fund innovation in development.

This year’s contest—‘100 Ideas to Save the Planet’— set a simple challenge: come up with one idea from your own community to help save the planet and its people from the effects of climate change. This ninth annual Development Marketplace was co-sponsored by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the World Bank.

This year’s event, which ran from November 10-13, featured 100 finalists from 47 countries selected from over 1,700 project proposals. The winning concepts announced today will be implemented in East Asia and the Pacific (5), Europe and Central Asia (2), Latin America (13), the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa (4) and South Asia (2).

“The Development Marketplace is an important part of our mission to break down funding barriers and promote innovative entrepreneurial ideas at the grass-roots level." said Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Winning ideas receive up to $200,000 in seed money, as well as guidance, and technical support as projects move into implementation. More than this though, all participants benefit from being able to hone their project design skills; by participating in knowledge and skills development sessions designed to help make them better development practitioners on their return home—win or lose.

"Managing risks from climate change will require not only one hundred, but thousands of ideas from communities all over the world," said Katherine Sierra, Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank. "This year’s contest was an opportunity to showcase the kind of creative thinking that can deliver tangible results in our work on climate adaptation. We will be watching how this year’s winners put their ideas into action."

Stand-out ideas from this year’s contest included:

· From Serbia: SZTR Sunce’s initiative to mitigate the effects of climate change induced bacterial blooms on commercial fishponds;

· From the Philippines: The University of the Philippines’ (Los Baños) ‘Bell and Bottle’ initiative – providing a low cost, high efficacy flood and landslide warning system;

· From Ecuador: International Network for Bamboo and Rattan’s idea to build elevated bamboo houses, essentially lifting communities in flood zones out of harm’s way

This year’s contest took place amid a wider pre-Copenhagen international discussion around climate change and its effects on developing countries. Many ideas combined traditional knowledge with 21st-century technology, as participants found creative ways to innovate, taking cues from both the ancient and the modern. Ideas included painting rocks around glaciers white to slow melting, to leveraging mobile telephony and SMS technology to strengthen disaster preparedness.

“Agriculture is where climate change, food security and poverty reduction intersect.” said Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). “The Development Marketplace is an excellent platform for scouting and collecting new ideas from diverse sources, fostering innovative solutions, and developing partnerships in support of climate change adaptation.”

Past winners have gone on to address pressing needs in their home communities. Many have seen their project concepts replicated elsewhere. The Kanchan Arsenic Filter project, a 2003 winner sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been scaled up with compelling results. The project, first implemented in Nepal, has been expanded to Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangladesh. To date, over 7, 000 filter units have been distributed, serving 30,000 people in the region. Pump Aid, a 2006 winner of a $120,000 grant, went on to secure an additional $25 million to expand water and sanitation services to reach eight million people in Zimbabwe and Malawi over five years.

“I believe that Development Marketplace is a very good example of how to facilitate innovation – giving us tangible solutions on complex development issues like climate change adaptation,” said Ulla Toernaes, Danish Minister for Development Cooperation. “We have through our own experience seen how innovation has helped transform Denmark’s energy consumption patterns and created new business opportunities like wind energy.”

Speaking at the Development Marketplace award ceremony, Sanjay Pradhan, Vice President of the World Bank noted, “Among the World Bank's most important roles is scanning the horizon for innovative emerging ideas. Then our job is to identify, select and help scale up those innovative solutions. Development Marketplace winners over the years have proved the value of bringing fresh voices and ideas to the development discussion, and that it is possible to turn good ideas into tangible results.”

-#-

About the Development Marketplace

The Development Marketplace is a competitive grant program that identifies and funds innovative, early-stage development projects with high potential for impact and replication. The program is supported by a consortium of partners including the World Bank.

This year’s contest gathered ideas around climate adaptation in developing countries, placing special focus on indigenous communities dealing with climate risks, climate adaptation and disaster risk management, and managing climate risks in ways that provide multiple benefits—eliciting ideas to help people deal with the effects of climate change, especially those living in some of the earth’s most vulnerable ecosystems.

A rigorous assessment by 200 specialists from within and outside the World Bank Group narrowed the list of 1,700 proposals to 100 finalists who were invited to present their ideas in Washington, D.C. this week. Since 1998, the Development Marketplace has awarded more than $61 million to initiatives identified through global, regional, and country competitions.

For more information about the Development Marketplace visit: http://www.developmentmarketplace.org

Visit our blog: http://blogs.worldbank.org/dmblog

Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/WorldBankDM

Visit our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/DevMarketplace2009

The project Enhancing Agricultural Productivity Project is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-13T05:00:00.000Z

The project Enhancing Agricultural Productivity Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Guinea Bissau Participatory Rural Development Project SPF is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-13T05:00:00.000Z

The project Guinea Bissau Participatory Rural Development Project SPF is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Wildlife and Livestock Utilization has changed to Closed

2009-11-13T05:00:00.000Z

The project Wildlife and Livestock Utilization has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Mozambique: Sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit

2009-11-12T22:53:36.000Z

WASHINGTON, November 12, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

IDA Credit: US$110 million equivalent

TERMS: Maturity = 40 years; Grace = 10 years

Project ID: P117234

Project Description: The sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC-6) for Mozambique is part of an annual series of World Bank operations that have provided finance for the Government of Mozambique’s budget since 2004.

PRSC-6 helps the Government of Mozambique to accelerate economic growth, notably by reducing structural constraints to financial intermediation, reducing excessive regulation constraining business activities, and promoting more efficient land use and better access to land. The budget support operation also focuses on consolidating and deepening institutional reforms in the area of the budget process and the use of public resources, the efficiency and effectiveness of public financial management, the transparency and efficiency of the public procurement system, and the coverage and efficiency of external audit.

Media Contact

Francois Gouahinga

(202) 473-0696

fgouahinga@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/MOZAMBIQUEEXTN/0,,menuPK:382138~pagePK:141159~piPK:141110~theSitePK:382131,00.html

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

Mauritius: Fourth Trade and Competitiveness Development Policy Loan

2009-11-12T22:50:12.000Z

WASHINGTON, November 12, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

IBRD Loan: US$50 million

Terms: Maturity = 20 years; Grace Period = 5 years

Project ID: P116608

Project Description: The Development Policy Loan for the Republic of Mauritius aims to support reforms which respond to two major challenges: (i) the “triple trade shock” of trade preference erosion in sugar and apparel and high oil prices; and (ii) the transition from low wage, low skill sugar and apparel exporter to innovative, knowledge and skill based services economy.

The operation is the fourth and last of the series. Policy areas comprise the four pillars of the Government’s reform program: 1) Consolidating fiscal performance and improving public sector efficiency; 2) Improving trade competitiveness; 3) Improving the investment climate; and 4) Widening the circle of opportunity through participation, social inclusion, and sustainability.

Media Contact

Francois Gouahinga

(202) 473-0696

fgouahinga@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/MAURITIUSEXTN/0,,menuPK:381980~pagePK:141159~piPK:141110~theSitePK:381974,00.html

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

Mozambique Receives US$110 Million from World Bank in Budget Support and Response to the Global Financial Crisis

2009-11-12T22:10:43.000Z

Contacts:

Antonio Nucifora
Tel: +258 21 48 23 71
Email: anucifora@worldbank.org

Rafael Saute
Tel: + 258 21 48 29 44
Email: rsaute@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON D.C., November 12, 2009 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit[1] of US$110 million in support of the implementation of Mozambique’s Second Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty (PARPA II).

The sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC-6) is part of an annual series of World Bank operations that have provided finance for the Government of Mozambique’s budget since 2004. “The budget support provided by the PRSC-6 will help the country cope with the effects of the global financial crisis.” said Peter Nicholas, Acting World Bank Country Director for Mozambique. “The global crisis also brings added urgency to Mozambique’s efforts to improve the business environment and strengthen governance, in particular legal and judicial reforms and the fight against corruption. As we develop the next PRSC we will step up our support to the government on economic governance issues. We believe that development needs to be inclusive, with all stakeholders voices being heard.”

The PRSC-6 helps the Government to accelerate economic growth, notably by reducing structural constraints to financial intermediation, reducing excessive regulation constraining business activities, and promoting more efficient land use and better access to land. The budget support operation also focuses on consolidating and deepening institutional reforms in the area of the budget process and the use of public resources, the efficiency and effectiveness of public financial management, the transparency and efficiency of the public procurement system, and the coverage and efficiency of external audit.

“The reforms backed by the PRSC-6 recognize the centrality of the growth agenda and the importance of strengthening economic governance systems” added Antonio Nucifora, Senior Economist and World Bank Task Team Leader for the PRSC series. “This operation focuses on removing constraints to economic growth and investment, and particularly facilitating the development of labor intensive small and medium enterprises, in line with the key priorities of the Government’s PARPA”

The PRSC operations are fully harmonized within the joint donor budget support mechanism, and use the Performance Assessment Framework agreed by the Government of Mozambique and the 19 development partners who provide general budget support to the Government.

The PRSC series is a component of the World Bank’s 2008-2011 Country Partnership Strategy for Mozambique. A detailed description of the credit is contained in the PRSC-6 program document, which is available at the web link below, or by sending an email to amucavele@worldbank.org, or by requesting a hard copy at the World Bank office in Maputo.

For more on the World Bank’s work in Mozambique, visit: www.worldbank.org/mozambique

For more on the World Bank’s word in Sub-Saharan Africa, visit: www.worldbank.org/africa

[1] The credit is provided on standard International Development Association (IDA) terms, with a commitment fee of 0.5 percent, a service charge of 0.75 percent, and a 40 year maturity which includes a 10-year grace period.

World Bank Approves Fourth US$50 Million Development Policy Loan for Mauritius

2009-11-12T22:08:30.000Z

Contacts
In Washington: Herbert Yusimbom Boh (202) 473-3548
hboh@worldbank.org
In Port-Louis: Constantine Chikosi (230) 254 1116
cchikosi@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, November 12, 2009 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a fourth International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) Trade and Competitiveness Development Policy Loan (DPL) of US$50 million for Mauritius.

The Fourth Trade and Competitiveness Development Policy Loan (DPL4) is the last operation of the current programmatic series designed to support the Government’s medium-term reform program. In 2006, faced with a severe “triple trade shock”— namely, sugar and textile trade preference erosion and rising oil prices—the Government of Mauritius embarked on a bold multi-year program of reforms. “The Government wanted to restore macroeconomic balance and diversify the economy into new growth sectors, and sought for technical and financial assistance from the World Bank and other Development Partners,” explained Constantine Chikosi, the World Bank representative in Mauritius.

Although a small island state particularly dependent on exports to industrialized nations which were severely hit by the global crisis, Mauritius has avoided a collapse on output and employment so far. “The observed resilience of the Mauritian economy is a testimony to the positive impact of the reforms carried out since 2006, which favored economic diversification and adaptation at the same time that it created fiscal space for expansionary macroeconomic policies and other innovative, timely, temporary and targeted policy responses to cushion the crisis impact,” said Fabiano Bastos, task team leader of the World Bank team in Mauritius.

While successful reformers follow a clear direction in their policy agenda, they do not hesitate to respond to new economic realities. Reforms undertaken by the Government in the last three years, with the support of the DPL series, placed the Mauritian economy in a strong position to face the crisis and are contributing to a faster rebound than in less reforming economies.

For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/mauritius.

New Study Shows that Transforming African Infrastructure will require an Additional $31 Billion a Year and Huge Efficiency Gains

2009-11-12T17:00:00.000Z

Contacts:

ICA: Nick Sheppard, tel: +44 1908 337938 or + 44 7724 241214, email: n.sheppard@afdb.org

World Bank, Washington: Francois Gouahinga, tel: +1 202 473 0696, email: fgouahinga@worldbank.org

World Bank, South Africa: Sarwat Hussain, tel +27 73 888 1778, email: shussain@worldbank.org

MIDRAND, South Africa, November 12, 2009 – A study recently conducted in 24 African countries shows that the poor state of infrastructure in Sub Saharan Africa – its electricity, water, roads, and information and communications technology (ICT) – cuts national economic growth by 2 percentage points every year and reduces business productivity by as much as 40 percent.

“Africa’s Infrastructure: A Time for Transformation” finds that Africa has the weakest infrastructure in the world, but ironically Africans in some countries pay twice as much for basic services as people elsewhere. This study argues that well functioning infrastructure is essential to Africa’s economic performance and that improving inefficiencies and reducing waste could result in major improvements in African’s lives.

The report estimates that US$93 billion are needed annually over the next decade, more than twice what was previously thought. Almost half of this amount is needed to address the continent’s current power supply crisis that is hindering Africa’s growth. The new estimate amounts to roughly 15 percent of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP), comparable to what China invested in infrastructure over the last decade.

The study found that existing spending on African infrastructure is much higher than previously known, $45 billion a year. Also surprising was the fact that most of this is domestically financed by African tax payers and consumers. The study also found that there is also considerable wastage to address; a number of efficiency improvements could potentially expand the available resources by a further $17 billion.

However, even if major efficiencies are gained there is still a funding gap of $31 billion every year, much of it for power and water infrastructure in fragile states. Relative to the size of their economies, the funding gap is daunting for the region’s low-income countries (who would need to spend an additional 9 percent of their GDP) and particularly for the region’s fragile states (who would need to spend an additional 25 percent of their GDP). Resource-rich countries like Nigeria and Zambia face a more manageable funding gap of 4 percent of GDP. Particularly now with the global financial crisis, investing in African infrastructure is critical for Africa’s future.

“Modern infrastructure is the backbone of an economy and the lack of it inhibits economic growth,” says Obiageli Ezekwesili, World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region. “This report shows that investing more funds without tackling inefficiencies would be like pouring water into a leaking bucket. Africa can plug those leaks through reforms and policy improvements which will serve as a signal to investors that Africa is ready for business.”

The report recommends addressing the $17 billion annual efficiency gap and closing the remaining $31 billion annual funding gap for African infrastructure. Closing the efficiency gap requires improving management of utilities, ensuring adequate maintenance, promoting regional integration, recovering costs while recasting subsidies to enable broader access, and improving allocation and spending of public resources. To close the funding gap a wide range of sources will need, including public budgets, resource rents, local capital markets, private sector and non-OECD finance, as well as traditional donor assistance.

Countries with the greatest infrastructure needs are often the least attractive to investors. Many of the countries in Africa will probably take longer than a decade to catch-up on infrastructure and will probably have to use lower cost technologies. But action is needed urgently, the report argues, and the global financial crisis is underscoring the need for a massive effort to overhaul Africa’s infrastructure.

“Africa’s Infrastructure: A Time for Transformation” takes a holistic look at four crucial sectors – energy, water, transport, and ICT – that underpin national economies and are critical for reducing poverty in Africa. Prioritizing these sectors, increasing investments, and improving efficiency can help African countries avert the worsening impacts of the financial crisis and begin laying the foundations for future growth as the global economy rebounds.

· Power: Inadequate access to energy is the single largest impediment to economic growth. No country in the world has developed its economy without abundant energy supplies. Chronic power shortages affect 30 Africa countries; the entire installed generation capacity of 48 Sub Saharan African countries is 68 gigawatts, no more than Spain’s, and 25 percent of that capacity is unavailable because of aging plants and poor maintenance. At US$0.18 per kilowatt-hour on average, Africa’s power is expensive to produce by global standards, yet regional trade could significantly lower costs.

· Water: High hydro-climatic variability, inadequate storage, rising demand, and lack of transboundary cooperation undermine the African water sector. Less than 60 percent of Africa’s population has access to drinking water and only a handful of countries are on track to reach the Millennium Development Goals. With more than 60 transboundary rivers in Africa, developing large-scale infrastructure to manage water use and avoid conflicts is a huge challenge. Over the last 40 years, only 4 million hectares of new irrigation have been developed, compared to 25 and 32 million hectares for China and India respectively.

· Transport: Ineffective linkages between different transport modes (air, road, and rail), declining air connectivity, poorly equipped ports, ageing rail networks, and inadequate access to all-season roads are key problems facing Africa’s transport system. Only 40 percent of rural Africans live within two kilometers of an all-season road, compared to some 65 percent in other developing regions. Improving road accessibility in rural areas is critical to raising agricultural productivity across Africa. Limited competition in the trucking industry keeps road freight tariffs unnecessarily high, while red tape along international trade corridors, keeps the movement of freight below 12 kilometers an hour –as fast as a horse and a buggy – even though truck speeds can be 60 km/hour.

· ICT: The number of African mobile phone users has increased from 10 million in 2000 to more than 180 million in 2007. During 1992-2005, private sector investment in ICT infrastructure topped $20 billion but high prices of services remain a problem. In 2007 the average price of prepaid mobile services cost $12.58 a month in Africa, six times the $2 cost in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

The study – conducted by a partnership of institutions including the African Union Commission, African Development Bank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Infrastructure Consortium for Africa, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, and the World Bank – is one of the most detailed ever undertaken on the African continent. Surveys were conducted among 16 rail operators, 20 road entities, 30 power utilities, 30 ports, 60 airports, 80 water utilities, and over 100 ICT operators, as well as the relevant ministries in 24 countries. The results were derived from detailed analysis of spending needs (based on country-level microeconomic models), fiscal costs (which involved collecting and analysis of new data) and sector performance benchmarks (covering operational and financial aspects as well as the country’s institutional framework).

# # #

The project Seychelles Development Policy Lending is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-11T05:00:00.000Z

The project Seychelles Development Policy Lending is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

This development policy loan (DPL) is designed to support the adjustment and reform strategy of the Government of the Seychelles. The operation involves a single tranche of 6.4 million (US$9 million equivalent) and is conceived as a one-time operation supporting structural reforms to put the Seychelles on a sustainable development path. The objective of the operation is to help the Seychelles establish a stable macroeconomic environment and sustainable fiscal framework. This will be achieved through fiscal adjustment underpinned by public administration and civil service reforms and a reduction of the role of the state in commercial activities. The operation also supports establishment of a targeted social safety net. By providing foreign exchange in a timely manner, the operation will directly contribute to stabilization of the economy during a period of global slowdown and will help in building public support for the reform process. The DPL is expected to achieve substantial measurable outcomes during 2009 and 2010 and to contribute to the achievement of restoring internal and external balances with the assistance of the international financial institutions and development partners.

The project RW-First Community Living Standards Grant has changed to Closed

2009-11-11T05:00:00.000Z

The project RW-First Community Living Standards Grant has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The First Community Living Standards Grant (CLSG-l), the first of a programmatic series of three, is a development policy operation that will support this country assistance strategy (CAS) objective. Its objective is to support Government of Rwanda (GoR's) social protection and health policy reforms designed to reduce extreme poverty, initially in 30 pilot sectors, and to expand access to high-impact health, nutrition and population interventions at the community level. Given GoR's commitment to achieving quick results in the domain of poverty reduction, even in the midst of the ongoing global economic financial crisis, the urgency of social protection policy and institutional reforms cannot be over-emphasized. The policy actions to be supported focus on ensuring that GoR's policy reforms follow international good practice in the domain of social protection by adopting a non-distortionary wage policy, a policy to pay workers directly without intermediaries, a voluntary savings policy, a policy of determining direct support benefits to poor families with no adult labor that is based on the household as a unit, a policy to make the eligibility determination process clear and transparent, and health policies to expand poor households' access at the community level to high-impact health, nutrition and population interventions using performance-based financing mechanisms.

The project Agricultural Technology and Advisory Services is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-10T05:00:00.000Z

The project Agricultural Technology and Advisory Services is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Uganda Sustainable Land Management Country Program is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-10T05:00:00.000Z

The project Uganda Sustainable Land Management Country Program is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project CEMAC Transport Transit Facilitation - Additional financing Central African Republic and Cameroon has changed to Active

2009-11-10T05:00:00.000Z

The project CEMAC Transport Transit Facilitation - Additional financing Central African Republic and Cameroon has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Additional Financing for the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) Transport Transit Facilitation Project is to facilitate regional trade among the CEMAC member states and improve the Central African Republic (CAR), the Republic of Cameroon's, and the Republic of Chad's access to world markets. The additional financing will help finance the costs associated with: (a) the completion of some of the original Project activities, most of which were funded by other donors,' and (b) the enhancement of the project's capacity to achieve its objectives. The latter will be achieved by scaling up the road rehabilitation activities on the key international transit corridors linking the port of Douala in Cameroon with N'Djamena in Chad and strengthening corridor maintenance and hence sustainability in CAR. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is being streamlined in its formulation by removing from the PDO the title of the parts of the project through the implementation of which the PDO should be achieved, in accordance with current guidelines on the formulation of PDO. This reformulation will have no impact on the substance of the PDO.

World Bank Approves US$9 Million Development Policy Loan to Support the Seychelles’ Development

2009-11-06T21:54:36.000Z

Contacts:
In Nairobi: Peter Warutere, Tel. (+254 20) 3226444
pwarutere@worldbank.org
In Washington DC: Sharjeel Shahzad (+1)202-458-5584
ssharjeel@worldbank.org

Washington DC, November 5, 2009 — The World Bank has approved a Development Policy Loan (DPL) of Euro 6.5 million (US$9 million) to help the Republic of Seychelles to return to a sustainable development path following years of economic and fiscal imbalance.

The loan, approved today by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors, will assist the Government of Seychelles in their efforts to establish a stable macroeconomic environment and sustainable fiscal framework. It will support the government to improve public administration, accelerate civil service reforms, reduce the role of the State in commercial enterprises, and provide a targeted social safety net for the country’s most vulnerable households.

The Board also discussed the Seychelles’ Interim Strategy Note (ISN), which lays out a two-year Bank re-engagement strategy for the country. It is the first Bank strategy for Seychelles in 17 years.

“The Bank’s intervention in the Seychelles comes at a critical time when the government is implementing significant reforms to stabilize the economy,” says Johannes Zutt, the Country Director for Seychelles. “The DPL will deepen the comprehensive reform program that has been undertaken since November 2008, when the government signed a two-year Stand-By Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund.”

Seychelles, a middle-income country, is among the most indebted countries in the developing world. The island nation’s economy is dependent on tourism and fisheries, both of which are vulnerable to global and climate change shocks.

“The global economic crisis has particularly hit the Seychelles hard as it affected tourism, which has been the traditional driver of growth,” says Tracey Lane, the Bank’s Senior Economist for Seychelles. “Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could decline by as much as 10 percent in 2009, but should recover modestly to 3.5 percent in 2010.”

The government’s reform strategy, spearheaded by President James Michel, has been widely endorsed by the country’s parliament, opposition, civil society and people. The goal is to remove constraints to growth and transform the economy by allowing the private sector to take the lead in commercial production activities while the state remains the provider of core public goods. A liberalized foreign exchange regime and elimination of price controls over the medium term are expected to increase employment opportunities, particularly in tourism, banking and fishing industry, and also to enhance real incomes.

The Bank’s ISN focuses on the key challenges facing the country, including private sector development, poverty reduction and climate change. The strategy will help develop the knowledge base that the Bank needs for a longer-term policy engagement with Seychelles.

The DPL is an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) fixed-spread facility with a 25.5 years maturity.

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

News & Broadcast - World Bank Approves US$9 Million Development Policy Loan to Support the Seychelles Development

To view the entire article, click here.

$500 million infusion gives South Africa critical boost to meet ambitious clean energy goals

2009-11-06T19:16:11.000Z

Contacts
In Washington: Clare Fleming (202) 458-4679
cfleming@worldbank.org
Jeff Brez (202) 458-7628
jbrez@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 5, 2009— Developed and developing countries endorsed a Clean Technology Fund (CTF) funding envelope of $500 million for South Africa’s CTF Investment Plan (IP). This paves the way for South Africa to move closer to its vision of generating four percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2013, improving energy efficiency by 12 percent by 2015, and providing 1 million households with solar water heating over the next five years.

South Africa’s Long Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) have allowed for the development of a national climate policy based on what is required by science to limit temperature increase to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In response to the LTMS, the Government has adopted mitigation strategies that focus on accelerated energy efficiency across all sectors, ambitious low carbon technology research and development, new clean energy sources and behavioral change, as well as regulatory mechanisms and economic instruments. As a result of these strategies, South Africa’s emissions would grow at a reduced rate in the short term, plateau by 2030, and decline thereafter. In support of the Government’s strategies, the CTF co-financed IP will focus on scaling up grid-connected solar thermal power, utility-scale wind power development, solar water heaters, and demand-side energy efficiency. A Phase 2 of the IP is expected to include substantial investment in low carbon transport, on the basis of a transport sector greenhouse gas inventory that the Government is undertaking.

“We are delighted to receive this financial support and signal of endorsement of our clean energy plans,” said Buyelwa Sonjica, South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs. “Many of our citizens struggle to get access to the most basic of energy services. This plan allows us to help them move directly into a new era of energy access, based on the principle of low-carbon growth and development. In this way, South African citizens can serve as models of a new way of life based on clean energy.”

The priority areas to be funded under the CTF-funded IP are:

· Conversion of a half million households from electric to solar water heating (SWH) over the next five years, by providing support to municipalities and the private sector to deploy solar water heaters. This helps move the country half-way to the Government’s ambitious goal of converting 1 million households from electric to solar water heating over the next five years. CTF support would accelerate SWH market penetration and development of a domestic SWH industry by buying down high installed cost, market development, and demonstrating business models.

· An Eskom (South African electricity public utility) 100 MW-capacity Upington Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, which will be the first-ever commercial scale CSP plan in Sub-Saharan Africa. The IP will include final design and risk mitigation review followed by plant construction and operation, creating the transformational effect of promoting CSP deployment, particularly in the private sector, by proving the technology in operation and establishing cost and performance benchmarks. The promise of CSP is as a realistic alternative to coal power plants for base load capacity.

· Eskom’s Western Cape Province Wind Energy Facility (Phase 1 100 MW wind farm), which will be the first utility-scale wind power plant. CTF support would transform the nascent wind sector with a robust pipeline of large-scale wind power projects, along with an increased understanding of the bankability of wind development projects. Investments in transmission capacity to connect Independent Power Producers to the grid would catalyze substantial private sector investment in wind power.

· Increasing potential energy efficiency investments through expansion of bank lending to commercial and industrial sectors through lines of credit to commercial banks, contingent financing to foster energy service companies (ESCOs), and financial incentives or risk products to market leaders. The CTF-funded IP will address barriers to energy efficiency investments, such as high preparation and other transaction costs, perceived risk of energy efficiency projects on the part of commercial lenders, and organizational biases against investing in cost reduction.

“The governments on the CTF Trust Fund Committee welcomed the South African initiative, and appreciate the Investment Plan’s path-breaking approach,” said Zaheer Fakir, Chief Director of the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and co-chair of the CTF. “We look forward to the lessons which will emerge from this new Investment Plan, and to new clean development approaches and technologies which South Africa will help bring to the forefront.”

The CTF investments will mobilize financing of about $1 billion from bilateral and multilateral funders, as well as the private sector. Partners in the CTF IP include the Government of South Africa, African Development Bank, World Bank, and International Finance Corporation.

The South African Investment Plan is the fifth plan endorsed by the CTF. It was endorsed together with a Moroccan Investment Plan at last week’s Trust Fund Committee meetings. Three other plans, for Turkey, Mexico, and Egypt, were approved earlier in 2009.

About the Clean Technology Fund

The Clean Technology Fund (CTF) is a multi-donor trust fund created in 2009 as part of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to provide scaled up financing for the demonstration, deployment and transfer of low carbon technologies that have a significant potential for long-term greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) savings. CTF resources amount to approximately $5 billion pledged by donors (Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States).

The CIF, implemented jointly by the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, and World Bank, is comprised of the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) to provide scaled up financing for the demonstration, deployment and transfer of low carbon technologies that have a significant potential for long-term greenhouse gas emissions savings; and the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF), a suite of three targeted programs to pilot new approaches to climate action, each with potential for scaled up, transformational action: the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), the Forest Investment Program (FIP) and the Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (SREP).

For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/cif

The project Burundi - Financial & Private Sector Development is now in the pipeline.

2009-11-06T05:00:00.000Z

The project Burundi - Financial & Private Sector Development is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Republic of Seychelles: Development Policy Loan

2009-11-05T22:03:53.000Z

WASHINGTON, November 5, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following projects:

IBRD Loan: €6.4 million (US$9.0 million equivalent)

Terms: Maturity = 25.5 years; Grace Period = 10 years

Project ID: P114822

Project Description: The Development Policy Loan for the Republic of Seychelles aims to help create a more stable macroeconomic environment through fiscal adjustment underpinned by public administration and civil service reforms which are expected to contribute to the efficiency and equity of public spending. The operation also aims for improving Seychelles’ social safety net and expansion of the private sector. By providing foreign exchange in a timely manner, the operation will directly contribute to stabilization of the economy during a period of global slowdown and will add credibility to the reform process.

Media Contact

Francois Gouahinga

202-473-0696

fgouahinga@worldbank.org

For more information on the Bank’s work in Seychelles please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/seychelles

World Bank Approves US$9 Million Development Policy Loan to Support the Seychelles’ Development

2009-11-05T22:03:28.000Z

Contacts:

In Nairobi: Peter Warutere, Tel. (+254 20) 3226444

pwarutere@worldbank.org

In Washington DC: Sharjeel Shahzad (+1)202-458-5584

ssharjeel@worldbank.org

Washington DC, November 5, 2009— The World Bank has approved a Development Policy Loan (DPL) of Euro 6.5 million (US$9 million) to help the Republic of Seychelles to return to a sustainable development path following years of economic and fiscal imbalance.

“The Bank’s intervention in the Seychelles comes at a critical time when the government is implementing significant reforms to stabilize the economy,” says Johannes Zutt, the Country Director for Seychelles. “The DPL will deepen the comprehensive reform program that has been undertaken since November 2008, when the government signed a two-year Stand-By Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund.”

“The global economic crisis has particularly hit the Seychelles hard as it affected tourism, which has been the traditional driver of growth,” says Tracey Lane, the Bank’s Senior Economist for Seychelles. “Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could decline by as much as 10 percent in 2009, but should recover modestly to 3.5 percent in 2010.”

The DPL is an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) fixed-spread facility with a 25.5 years maturity.

####

For more information about the World Bank in Seychelles, please visit www.worldbank.org/sc

For more information about the World Bank in Africa, please visit www.worldbank.org/Afr

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

Bank Increases its Support for Transport Corridors in Central Africa

2009-11-05T21:53:56.000Z

Contacts

In Washington: Herbert Boh (202) 473 3548

hboh@worldbank.org;

In Yaoundé: Henri Laurent Bateg (237) 22 20 38 15
hbateg@worldbank.org

In Bangui: Jelena Pantelic (236) 61 65 77

Jpantelic@worldbank.org

In Ndjamena: Edmond Dingamhoudou (235) 52 33 60

edingamhoudou@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, November 5, 2009– The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved an additional financing of US$217 million to help ensure the completion and expansion of critical rail and road links in Cameroon and the Central African Republic under the CEMAC Transport and Trade Facilitation Project.

The overall project development objective (PDO), approved in 2007, is to facilitate regional trade among the Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) Member States and improve the Central African Republic’s, the Republic of Cameroon’s and the Republic of Chad’s access to world markets. This objective is to be achieved mostly through support to the CEMAC Customs Union, coupled with facilitation measures and investment in road and rail infrastructure along the Douala-Bangui and the Douala-N’Djaména corridors.

The additional financing will secure the achievement of the project objective by: (i) funding the financing gap for the Bouar/Garoua Boulaï road paving works, the main component of the project along the Douala Bangui Corridor; (ii) contributing to bridge the gap for the Kousséri road by-pass along the Douala N’djamena corridor; (iii) strengthening the road maintenance component of the Bangui-Douala corridor in CAR to take into account deteriorated conditions on several sections; (iv) rehabilitating part of the Maroua-Kousséri road section on the Douala and N’Djaména Corridor; and (v) supplementing the original IDA contribution to the rail infrastructure investment plan in Cameroon for 2009-2013.

“The additional financing of the project will secure the achievement of the PDO by bridging funding gaps and providing rehabilitation of additional rail and road infrastructure on both corridors to improve their efficiency” said Jean-Francois Marteau, Task Team Leader for the project. “The World Bank acts in conjunction with and in support to the European Commission, France and the African Development Bank, which reflects the high degree of collaboration between these institutions”.

Transport costs in central Africa are among the highest on the Continent. For Chad and the CAR, both landlocked countries, transit costs represent 52% and 33% of the value of exports respectively. Road travel from Douala, Cameroon --the main port and regional gateway-- currently takes about 15 days to N’Djamena, Chad and 10 days to Bangui, CAR. The proposed project and the additional financing activities will help reduce transit time by at least twenty percent along corridors and also improve transport conditions, which should also lead to a decrease in transport costs.

As pointed out by Richard Scobey from the Africa Region’s regional integration department, “this project essentially helps connect landlocked Central African Republic and Chad to regional markets, and should also increase regional trade in Central Africa. At a time when the global economic crisis severely threatens Africa’s recent economic achievements, regional solutions like this project are essential to unblock economies of scale and restoring growth”.

“The project is a key element of our support to economic growth and poverty reduction in both the Central African Republic and Cameroon”, said Mary Barton-Dock, the Country Director for Cameroon, CAR and Chad. Beyond its obvious regional benefits, it will also provide opportunities for the people living along both corridors, and will facilitate trade and travel within the respective countries,” she added.

The regional CEMAC Transport and Transit Facilitation Project was developed within the framework of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and with strong support from the community member countries. The project finances activities in Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad. The project addresses key objectives of the Africa Action Plan, including deepening regional integration, improving governance, facilitating trade and supporting infrastructure development. The project, with the inclusion of the additional financing, has leveraged a total of about US$980 million, including US$418 million by IDA, for a multifaceted operation designed to secure access to landlocked CAR and Chad, enhance regional integration, and increase trade in the CEMAC region.

###

For more information on the World Bank in sub-Saharan Africa visit: www.worldbank.org/afr

For more information about the World Bank and regional integration in Sub Saharan Africa visit: www.worldbank.org/afr/rid

For more information about the World Bank in Cameroon visit: www.worldbank.org/cameroon

For more information about the World Bank in CAR visit: www.worldbank.org/car

For more information about this project visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=258644&menuPK=258672&Projectid=P079736

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

The project Ghana Natural Resource and Environmental Governance - DPO has changed to Closed

2009-11-05T05:00:00.000Z

The project Ghana Natural Resource and Environmental Governance - DPO has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Second Natural Resources and Environmental Governance Development Policy Operation (DPO-2) Program for Ghana focuses on: (a) ensuring predictable financing and sustainable management of the forest and wildlife resources and effective forest law enforcement; (b) improving mining and forestry sector revenue collection, management, and transparency; (c) addressing social issues in forest and mining communities; and (d) mainstreaming environment into policies for economic growth. The programmatic DPO continue to address governance issues in the forestry and mining sectors and improve environmental management. Currently forestry, wildlife, and mining are a key to Ghana's economy and share common challenges, including revenues that are not well captured and large numbers of people dependent on the sector for their livelihood. In addition, environmental policy needs to be strengthened to effectively control pollution, and to reduce long-term negative health and economic impacts due to environmental degradation and climate change. Ghana has recognized the need to address these important issues. The 2006-2009 Second Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) has the overarching goals of sustaining economic growth of at least six percent per year to attain middle-income country status and surpass the 2015 millennium development goal of halving poverty levels to 26 percent of the population and reducing inequalities. The expected outcomes at the end of the DPO series include: (i) improved management of government revenues and finances in the forestry and mining sectors; (ii) reduced illegal logging; (iii) reduced social conflict in forestry and mining communities; and (iv) integration of environmental considerations into policy formulation and implementation across government, including risks associated with climate change.

The project NIGER - EFA/FTI PROGRAM has changed to Active

2009-11-05T05:00:00.000Z

The project NIGER - EFA/FTI PROGRAM has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Botswana - Morupule B Generation and Transmission Project has changed to Active

2009-10-31T04:00:00.000Z

The project Botswana - Morupule B Generation and Transmission Project has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objectives of the Morupule B Generation and Transmission Project are to support Botswana in: (i) developing reliable and affordable supply of electricity for energy security; (ii) promoting alternative energy resources for low-carbon growth; and (iii) building its institutional capacity in the energy sector. There are three components to the project. The first component of the project is Morupule generation expansion. This component, to be implemented by Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), includes three distinct and integral infrastructure subcomponents as follows: the first sub-component is Morupule B power station involves construction of a 600 MW coal-fired power station, adjacent to the existing Morupule A Power Station near Palapye, in the eastern part of the country; the second sub-component is transmission system involves construction, supply and installation of: (a) Morupule Phokoje 400 kV transmission line (102 kilometer (km) and associated equipment; and (b) Morupule-Isang 400 kV transmission line (215 km) and associated equipment; and the third sub-component of the project is water supply system involves construction of: (a) pipeline from the new Paje well field to the Morupule B Power Station (80 km) for backup supply; and (b) power supply line for the new Paje well field. The second component of the project is alternative energy development. This component will support diversification of Botswana's economy through a low-carbon growth strategy. Given Botswana's energy endowment, its cleaner fuel options are to develop coal-bed methane and to explore solar thermal, while examining prospects for carbon capture and storage as a means to mitigate climate change impacts. The third component of the project is institution and capacity building. This component covers project implementation assistance, institutional and capacity building for BPC and the Ministry of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources (MMEWR).