Congo, Republic of | World Bank

Status of projects in execution (SOPE) - FY09 : Africa region - Congo, Republic of

The Status of Projects in Execution (SOPE) report for FY09 provides information on all International Bank and Rural Development (IBRD)/International Development Association (IDA) projects that were active on June 30, 2009. The report is intended to bridge the gap in information available to the public between the project appraisal document, disclosed after the Bank approves a project, and the implementation completion report, disclosed after the project closes. In addition to the project progress description, the FY09 SOPE report contains project level comparisons of disbursement estimates and actual disbursements, and a table showing the loan/credit/grant amount and disbursements to date for all active projects.

Republic of Congo - Emergency Recovery and Community Support Project

Ratings for the Emergency Recovery and Community Support Project for Republic of Congo were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was moderate, the Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and the Borrower performance was also moderately satisfactory. Some lessons learned included: a project implemented in a weak institutional environment needs a powerful champion in the administrative and political apparatus if far reaching reforms addressing multi-sectoral needs have to be implemented. There was a window of opportunity at the end of the conflicts for launching some critical reforms, and the project successfully laid the groundwork for a number of improvements to the institutional environment. However, the Project Coordination and Implementation Unit (PCIU) did not have the means to facilitate the dialogue and complete the reform process. An inter-ministerial committee regrouping all the involved ministries, and presided by e.g. the Prime Minister, could have advanced adoption of the reforms and their implementation. The delays in implementing decentralization reforms also show that reforms should be implemented incrementally and in well defined phases. The post-conflict environment can be used to create conditions for inclusiveness and build a solid base for private sector participation in the reconstruction efforts and for launching reforms. Gradual mainstreaming of project activities into initially weak sector ministries is necessary to assure sustainability.

Republic of Congo - Country partnership strategy : chairman's concluding remarks

Congo - HIV/AIDS and Health Project : additional financing

The Project Development Objective (PDO) of the HIV/AIDS and Health Project for Congo will be to contribute to the recipient's effort: (a) to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs); (b) to mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of HIV/AIDS and STIs on persons infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and STIs; and (c) to build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The purpose of the additional financing is to: (i) refocus the project on priority interventions to respond to evidence on the drivers of the epidemic; (ii) scale up activities targeting higher-risk and vulnerable population groups; (iii) build capacity for sustainability and incorporate lessons of experience; and (iv) leverage additional government and donor funding and apply the Bank's global knowledge and experience. The PDO will be revised to take into account the fact that the Bank's support can make a strong contribution to the desired outcomes, but cannot claim sole responsibility given the efforts of Government and other partners. The project's results framework will be restructured in order to: (i) take account of improved sources of data that were not available at the time of the preparation of the original project, as well as areas where data availability remains limited; (ii) make the results framework more gender sensitive by disaggregating indicators to show results for men/women; (iii) clarify certain indicators to allow better measurement of the intended outcome, especially for targeted high risks and vulnerable groups; (iv) reflect the additional three years of project implementation; and (v) improve alignment with the regional HIV/AIDS scorecard.

Congo, Republic of - HIV/AIDS and Health : additional financing

Congo, Republic of - Additional Financing for the HIV/AIDS and Health Project

Congo, Republic of - Additional Financing for the HIV/AIDS and Health Project : indigenous peoples planning framework

The objectives of the Additional Financing for the HIV/AIDS and Health Project for Congo, Republic of are to: (i) support actions by the Government of the Congo to slow the spread of HIV-AIDS; (ii) strengthen support and care for people infected or affected by HIV-AIDS; and (iii) build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Some of the negative and mitigation measures include: the pygmies were the first settlers in Congo and reside mainly in three departments - Likuala, Sangha, and Cuvette. They reside in rural forested areas where health care access is poor. There is general lack of health infrastructure in these departments, and the pygmies rely predominantly on traditional medicine. Although specific data on pygmies is lacking, the demographic health survey (2005) confirmed higher maternal and child mortality in rural areas. This and the very low literacy levels and poor access to health services point to higher mortality rates among pygmies than in the rest of the population. They are also more vulnerable to most common diseases and have a shorter life expectancy. HIV/AIDS is not yet an epidemic amongst the pygmies, and the groups of people living with HIV/AIDS are supporting prevention activities. In addition, the Ministry of Health (MSASF) is currently organizing outreach activities, supported by specific disease initiatives. This project had already initiated preventive activities for HIV/AIDS and intends to build on existing interventions in order to expand access to quality of services and reduce morbidity and mortality in this group.

Congo, Republic of - HIV/AIDS and Health : additional financing

Republic of Congo - Country partnership strategy for the period FY10-FY12

This Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) was designed in close coordination with all stakeholders, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and provides a framework for Bank support for FY10-FY12. The CPS will contribute to Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) implementation through seven specific outcomes: (i) more effective management of oil revenues and public expenditure; (ii) enhanced agricultural productivity and marketing; (iii) better tools for improved forestry management; (iv) a foundation for MSME growth; (v) improved infrastructure service delivery; (vi) a foundation for increasing Congo's market share in regional transit services; and (vii) improved basic services. Economic performance has been strongly affected by swings in production levels and oil prices, exacerbated by the onset of the global financial crisis in recent months. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted in 2007 by 1.6 percent in real terms, mostly due to an accident on a major oil platform, which led to a sharp drop in oil production. This illustrates the dominant role of oil in the economy. Oil production recovered strongly in 2008, but this was partially offset by the onset of the global financial crisis in the second part of the year. Real GDP growth in 2008 was 5.6 percent. The strengthening of Congo's external position over the past years has helped build a solid cushion of international reserves. Driven by higher oil export earnings, Congo's current account deficit over recent years has declined to 6.6 percent of non-oil GDP in 2008. The capital and financial balance also improved due to higher net direct and short term investments (mostly related to the oil sector). As a result, the overall balance of payments registered a surplus of 21.8 percent of GDP in 2008 and gross international reserves grew to a very comfortable level of 14.1 months of imports. This 'cushion' is critical in the face of the currently low oil prices and the impact of the global crisis on the external position in the months ahead. Indeed, the current account balance is projected to fall considerably to 18.9 percent of GDP in 2009, due to the slow-down in oil prices and the fall in international demand for other export goods, in particular timber. As net capital inflows are also projected to decrease, the overall balance of payments is projected to turn into a deficit of 3.6 percent of GDP in 2009.

Republic of Congo - Support to Basic Education Project : additional financing

The objective of the Additional financing for Support to Basic Education Project is to improve the efficiency, quality, and equity in the provision of basic education in the Republic of Congo with a view to achieving universal quality primary education by 2015. The additional grant will help to finance the costs associated with the scaling-up of all project activities and support the finalization and implementation of a full-fledged sector strategy, in order to enhance the project's impact and development effectiveness by: (i) supporting the preparation and implementation of a comprehensive and sustainable, long-term education for all fast track initiative education sector plan; (ii) building the capacity of the ministry of primary and secondary education in charge of literacy, by improving, in particular, its planning, human resources, fiduciary and budget management capacity, and strengthening the capacity of the regional departments of education to provide support to the school system; (iii) providing support to increase equity in the provision of services, by providing free textbooks and focusing on infrastructure expansion efforts in underserved areas; (iv) improving the quality of education, through training teachers, school directors and inspectors, improving curricula, and introducing standardized tests; and (v) providing support to out-of-school youth and excluded populations, such as pygmies.

Congo, Republic of - HIV/AIDS and Health - additional financing

Republic of Congo - Additional financing for Support to Basic Education Project

Doing business 2010 : Congo, Republic of - comparing regulation in 183 economies

Doing Business 2010 is the seventh in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. This paper presents the summary Doing Business indicators for Congo, Republic of. The paper includes the following headings: introduction and aggregate rankings, starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, closing a business, and Doing Business 2010 reform.

Progress report to the Board of Executive Directors on the Implementation of the Management's action plan in response to the Democratic Republic of Congo inspection panel investigation report

The present report is aimed at providing information to the Board regarding the progress in implementing the action plan proposed by management. The action plan is first presented in matrix form, and then an explanation is provided of progress under the four main action areas. Agreed actions are grouped around four major themes: (i) improving and scaling up work in the region on safeguards and sound environmental and social design and implementation of the portfolio; (ii) scaling up the work on indigenous peoples in DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and ensuring that the relevant safeguards are appropriately triggered; (iii) supporting the forest policy reform agenda in DRC, and scaling up the forestry work; and (iv) improving outreach and communications.

Status of projects in execution (SOPE) - FY08 : Africa region - Congo, Republic of

The Status of Projects in Execution (SOPE) report for FY08 provides information on all International Bank and Rural Development (IBRD)/International Development Association (IDA) projects that were active on June 30, 2008. The report is intended to bridge the gap in information available to the public between the project appraisal document, disclosed after the Bank approves a project, and the implementation completion report, disclosed after the project closes. In addition to the project progress description, the FY08 SOPE report contains project level comparisons of disbursement estimates and actual disbursements, and a table showing the loan/credit/grant amount and disbursements to date for all active projects.

Congo, Republic of - Poverty reduction strategy paper and joint IDA-IMF staff advisory note : chairman's summing up

Doing business 2009 : country profile for Congo, Republic - comparing regulation in 181 economies

Doing Business 2009 is the sixth in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 181 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. This paper presents the summary Doing Business indicators for Congo, Republic. The paper includes the following headings: introduction, starting a business, dealing with licenses, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business.

$215 Million Central Africa Backbone Program Will Bring Low Cost, High Speed Internet to the Region

2009-10-06T14:30:42.000Z

Contact
In Geneva: Ian Larsen
Phone: +41(0)79 477 96 17

E-mail: ilarsen@worldbank.org or ianlarsen71@yahoo.com

GENEVA, October 6, 2009 – Today the Executive Board of Directors of the World Bank Group has announced its endorsement of the $215 million, ten-year Central African Backbone Program (CAB Program). This program will support the countries of the Central African region in developing their high-speed telecommunications backbone infrastructure to increase the availability of high-speed Internet and reduce end-user prices. The CAB Program will also help countries harmonize the laws and regulations that govern the ICT sector to increase private sector investment and improve competition.

Three countries – Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic (CAR) – are participating in the initial $26.2 million phase of the Program. A further eight countries are also eligible to participate in the Program—Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Principe, and Sudan.

The CAB Program is being supported through a partnership between the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The program also aims to leverage an additional US$98 million from the private sector. In conjunction with the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), the African Union Commission (AUC) will play an important role in facilitating inter-governmental cooperation and policy harmonization. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will also assist governments in structuring Public Private Partnerships under the program.

Development Impact

The CAB Program brings much needed connectivity to Central Africa. Until now, people in Central Africa have the lowest quality and highest cost Internet and telephone services in Africa. The population pays up to two times more in monthly Internet rates than people living in other African countries, and up to three times more than those living in other parts of the world. “The CAB Program is very important for the countries involved and lies at the heart of their development strategies. It will assist countries to strengthen their enabling environment, create competition and, ultimately increase access and lower the costs for end users,” said Mary Barton-Dock, World Bank Country Director for Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic.

In its recent Information and Communications for Development 2009: Extending Reach and Increasing Impact, the World Bank found that for every 10 percentage-point increase in high speed Internet connections there is an increase in economic growth of 1.3 percentage points. The report also identifies the mobile platform as the single most powerful way to reach and deliver public and private services to hundreds of millions of people in remote and rural areas across the developing world.

“Ultimately, our goal is to develop regional and national broadband backbones and significantly reduce the cost of ICT services in Central Africa. Through better and affordable connectivity, the aim is to leverage the transformational powers of ICTs to support economic growth, SME development, employment creation, productivity gains and trade integration in the region,” says Mohsen Khalil, Director of Global Information and Communications Technologies at the World Bank Group.

Modernizing the ICT Sector

In addition to infrastructure development, the CAB Program will strengthen the capacity of public institutions such as the sectoral ministries and regulatory authorities and will promote a competition-friendly environment by liberalizing the sector and restructuring telecommunications operators.

The Program is also meant to be a model of regional integration and successful public-private partnerships. Its design and implementation require the cooperation of several countries and international and regional organizations. Design goals will be to: (i) maximize the use of private financing (or minimize the use of public financing); (ii) ensure feasibility and attractiveness of the transaction; and (iii) secure open access to regional connectivity infrastructure and ensure competitive, reasonable tariff of international, regional and national capacity.

“This program is a great example of the World Bank’s increasing emphasis on regional infrastructure as part of Africa’s development,” said Rick Scobey, Acting Director for Regional Integration in Africa at the World Bank.

Part of a Broader Regional Strategy

The World Bank Group and African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership, are committing significant resources and are making progress on the ground in helping to achieve the goals outlined at the October 2007 Connect Africa Summit. The Summit was convened by the International Telecommunications Union, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the African Union, and the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development.

This partnership has already launched three major regional connectivity programs, among a range of other ICT activities, with a fourth in the pipeline.

Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP)

The World Bank is providing US$424 million in financing for the Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP) to support regional connectivity and transparency in government through the use of ICT. The Program is available to all countries in the East and Southern Africa region and can be tailored to each country’s specific needs and priorities. The first phase of RCIP included Kenya, Madagascar and Burundi and was approved by the Board of the World Bank in 2007. The second phase was for Rwanda and was approved in 2008. The third phase includes Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi and was approved by the Board of the World Bank in June 2009.

East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) – World Bank Group, AfDB and other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)

EASSy is a 10,000 km submarine fiber-optic cable running along the East Coast of Africa from Sudan to South Africa. It will directly connect eight of the countries along the route and indirectly connect all of the others in the region to the international communications infrastructure. It will provide broadband connectivity to the global fiber-optic cable networks, supplying low-cost, high bandwidth capacity to the markets in the region.

The project was developed by a consortium of 26 telecommunications operators, mostly from Eastern and Southern Africa with the support of five DFIs: International Finance Corporation (IFC), the AfDB, European Investment Bank, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). The total cost of the project is $235 million with around $70 million coming as debt-financing from the DFIs. Of this, IFC contributed $32.7 million and AfDB contributed U$14.5 million.

EASSy is one of three submarine fiber-optic cables that are due to become operational in the region between 2009 and 2010. Experience shows that competition between submarine cables is the best way to achieve efficient and affordable ICT services.

West African Power Pool – Joint World Bank-AfDB

Limited inter-country connectivity in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region results in inefficient, costly routing of calls between neighboring countries by satellite. Policy makers in the region have identified the emerging regional electricity transmission infrastructure as a way of improving high bandwidth regional communications capacity. These electricity networks have built in fiber-optic cables whose spare capacity can be utilized to provide backbone services to communications providers on a wholesale basis.

The World Bank and AfDB have been closely involved in developing the regional electricity transmission infrastructure through the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP). This transmission infrastructure will also be able to carry telecommunications traffic. In 2008, a stakeholder workshop in Benin endorsed the opportunity and committed to removing the bottlenecks associated with creating a regional backhaul network.

The World Bank and AfDB continue to provide support to the development of this network in FY09 through the preparation of the detailed technical, commercial and financial feasibility studies. Staff are also working with governments in the region to address the legal/regulatory and contractual arrangements for implementation, and continue to work with other donor agencies to ensure that efforts in this area are complementary.

“Regional communication infrastructure programs such as the CAB program illustrate what can be achieved through a strong partnership between the governments, private-sector and development partners,” said Yann Burtin, Project Manager for the CAB Program. The contributions of the AfDB and of the African Union Commission are essential to the process, added Burtin.

“The CAB program is an exciting development for Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Program. Regional connectivity projects like this one are increasingly important in the African Development Bank’s strategy for the region,” said Amadou Thierno Diallo, Manager for Energy and ICT at theAfDB.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.worldbank.org/gict

The project CG - FCPF Readiness Grant is now in the pipeline.

2009-08-15T04:00:00.000Z

The project CG - FCPF Readiness Grant is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project HIV/AIDS & Health - Additional Financing has changed to Active

2009-06-26T04:00:00.000Z

The project HIV/AIDS & Health - Additional Financing has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Republic of Congo: World Bank Approves Additional financing of US$5 Million Grant to Build Capacity for the HIV/AIDS and Health Project (PLVSS II)

2009-06-23T21:25:52.000Z

Contacts:

Á Washington: Rachel Mccolgan- Arnold

(202) 458-5299

rmccolgan@worldbank.org

Á Brazzaville:: Clémentine Maoungou

242-663-1970 – (242) 81 33 30/ 81 46 38

cmaoungou@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2009– The World Bank’s Board of Directors today approved additional financing in the amount of US$5 million for the extension of the HIV/AIDS and Health Project (PLVSS II) for the Republic of Congo. The initial grant of US$19 million (SDR 12.8 million) allocated to the HIV/AIDS and Health Project (PLVSS) was approved on April 20, 2004 and is expected to close on June 30, 2009. With this new financing, the project’s closing date will be extended by three years.

The development objectives of the original project were to (i) contain the spread of AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs); (ii) mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of AIDS and STIs on persons infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and STIs; and (iii) build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the AIDS epidemic.

The development objectives of the revised project remain unchanged, which entail contributing to the recipient’s efforts in order to (i) contain the spread of AIDS and STIs; (ii) mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of AIDS and STIs on persons infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and STIs; and (iii) build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the AIDS epidemic.

The Project has four components that remain unchanged:

- Public sector response: the response from the Ministry of Health and other ministries;

- Civil society response: community initiatives and support for a small number of private sector initiatives;

- Investments in orphans and other vulnerable children; and

- Management and coordination, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation, including support with data collection at the national level.

Implementation of the project with the initial grant always received a satisfactory rating, and good progress with respect to several indicators was observed.

This additional financing will assist the State to:

(i) Refocus the project on priority areas for action in order to address discoveries regarding factors associated with the epidemic;

(ii) Upgrade the activities targeting high-risk and vulnerable groups (OVC, sex workers, widows, young people, indigenous peoples, sexual minorities, armed forces, and prisoners);

(iii) Build sustainability capacity and draw lessons from the experience; and

(iv) Scale up the level of additional financing by the Government and the donors, and apply the World Bank’s knowledge and experience.

Specifically, this IDA financing will meet the following needs:

- Refocus the project on priority areas for action;

- Increase the number of activities targeting high-risk and vulnerable groups; and

- Build national sustainability capacity and retain the lessons drawn from the experience.

It bears noting that this additional financing will cover the same previously selected six départements in the country, namely Pointe-Noire, Kouilou, Niari, Lékoumou, Brazzaville, and Sangha, in which 80 percent of the Congolese population lives.

For more information on World Bank activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, visit

www.worldbank.org/africa

For more information on World Bank activities in the Republic of Congo, visit

www.worldbank.org/congo

For more information on this project, visit the project database

###

Congo: HIV/AIDS and Health Project [Additional Financing]

2009-06-23T14:00:00.000Z

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following projects:

IDA Grant: US$5 million

Project ID: P116637

Project Description: The HIV/AIDS and Health Project for Congo aims to contribute to the recipient's effort: (a) to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs); (b) to mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of HIV/AIDS and STIs on persons infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and STIs; and (c) to build strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The purpose of the additional financing is to: (i) refocus the project on priority interventions to respond to evidence on the drivers of the epidemic; (ii) scale up activities targeting higher-risk and vulnerable population groups; (iii) build capacity for sustainability and incorporate lessons of experience; and (iv) leverage additional government and donor funding and apply the Bank's global knowledge and experience.

Media Contact

Rachel McColgan - Arnold

(202) 458-5299

rmccolgan@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit: http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P116637

The project Republic of Congo Support to Basic Education Project Additional Financing has changed to Active

2009-06-12T04:00:00.000Z

The project Republic of Congo Support to Basic Education Project Additional Financing has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Republic of Congo: Support to Basic Education Project

2009-06-09T22:27:02.000Z

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

IDA Grant: US$15 million equivalent

Project ID: P113508

Project Description: The Support to Basic Education Project for the Republic of Congo aims to improve efficiency, quality and equity in the provision of basic education in Congo. The results would contribute to the Government efforts to achieve universal quality primary education by 2015. In order to achieve the objective the proposed Additional Financing would pursue a four-fold agenda of action: support the Government of Congo to prepare and implement a sustainable, long-term EFA FTI education sector plan for all educational levels; build the capacity of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in particular to improve planning, human resources and budget management, and strengthen the capacity of the Regional Departments of Education (DDEPSA) to provide support to the school system; provide support to increase equity in the provision of services, by providing free textbooks and focusing on infrastructure expansion efforts in underserved areas; and provide support to out of school youth and excluded populations, such as pygmies.

Media Contact:

Rachel Mccolgan

(202) 458-5299

rmccolgan@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&contentFed=yes&Projectid=P113508

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

The project HIV/AIDS & Health - Additional Financing is now in the pipeline.

2009-05-05T04:00:00.000Z

The project HIV/AIDS & Health - Additional Financing is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Support to Basic Education Project Additional Financing is now in the pipeline.

2009-03-24T04:00:00.000Z

The project Support to Basic Education Project Additional Financing is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project EMERGENCY REINTEGRATION PROGRAM has changed to Closed

2009-03-01T05:00:00.000Z

The project EMERGENCY REINTEGRATION PROGRAM has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Call for Action to Mitigate Effects of the Financial Crisis on Africa

2009-02-05T21:38:43.000Z

Contacts:
In Addis Ababa: Gelila Woodeneh: 1 (251) 62 77 00
gwoodeneh@worldbank.org
In Washington, DC: Herbert Boh: (1) 202 473- 3548
hboh@worldbank.org

ADDIS ABABA, February 4, 2009 – African economies, which were on the verge of turning the corner following more than a decade of faster and steadier economic growth, now desperately need new funding to mitigate contagion from the global financial crisis, the World Bank said Tuesday.

“We call on rich countries to keep Africa in mind as they design programs to help their economies weather the financial crisis,” the World Bank’s Vice-President for the Africa Region, Obiageli Ezekwesili, said during a video press conference from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she was attending the African Union summit.

Connected via video to journalists in 21 other African capitals, Ezekwesili said it was crucial for wealthier nations not to focus on “insular” domestic responses to the crisis. She reiterated a call made earlier by World Bank President Robert Zoellick for donor countries to devote 0.7 percent of the amount of their stimulus packages to a Vulnerability Fund for Africa.

She explained that the Fund would direct spending to projects that are urgently needed to avert the growing unemployment, now building across Africa, as a result of the closure of mining operations, the suspension or cancellation of projects in sectors hardest-hit by a reversal of private capital flows, and tighter public budgets, the fall in commodity prices, and the shrinking of revenue from tourism and remittances.

The Fund would also finance safety net programs, attending to the basic needs of the poorest of the poor: health, education, school feeding projects, basic inputs for farmers, etc. It would help sustain the flow of credit to small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the engines of growth, job and wealth creation.

The Fund, which the World Bank is asking the G20 summit expected to hold in London next April 2 to help set up, would support investments in infrastructure projects that can build a foundation for future productivity and growth in Africa and other poor countries.

To sustain support for aid and the kind of fresh funding proposed under the Vulnerability Fund, Ezekwesili urged African governments to stay the course of public sector reforms; helping to build more capable states; train and retain competent civil servants who demonstrate integrity and tackle inefficiencies in state bureaucracies.

She called on African governments to improve the efficiency of public expenditures, pointing to the need to scrap subsidies that benefit those Africans who do not need them, for those that are better targeted in favor of the poor. A staggering one half of Africa’s US$40 billion annual financing gap for much-needed infrastructure could be closed by improving the efficiency in the way the public service functions.

She urged resource-rich countries, to improve adherence to transparency and accountability mechanisms; to ensure that revenue from natural resources are invested in sustainable poverty alleviation programs; to promote pro-poor growth and to diversify their economies beyond non-renewable sources of wealth.

“Countries like Zambia and other mineral-rich African nations must articulate a development strategy and make policy choices that would guarantee prosperity for ‘a Zambia without copper’,” the World Bank Vice President said, in reply to a question from a Lusaka-based journalist. She said citizens’ groups, the media and parliaments must all play more active roles in holding governments and donors accountable.

“The citizens of Africa are the continent’s most valuable asset,” Ezekwesili said, stressing the importance of tertiary education in building Africa’s skills to compete in a truly globalized economy. She said education, innovation and the technological leap-frogging offered by ICTs (information and communications technology) would help those African economies that invest in them to build the knowledge economy of the future.

“Those who can pay should pay but governments should provide scholarships and other forms of assistance to ensure that poor students who deserve to can attend university,” Ezekwesili said, in response to a question on tertiary education in Tanzania.

She acknowledged the need for governments to stick only to those things they do best – allowing space for the private sector to thrive in what businesses do.

“Governments cannot abandon their regulatory role, especially when it comes to ensuring that their financial sectors work efficiently,” Ezekwesili said.

Some analysts have blamed ineffective regulatory mechanisms for the current global financial crisis.

Initially underestimated, contagion from what started as a crisis in the US subprime mortgage sector, poses a real threat of rolling back gains in poverty alleviation in Africa that had been fuelled by healthy growth rates ranging from 5.9 percent to 8.1 percent for about 65 percent of Africa’s population during 1997-2007. Although still fragile, that growth had clearly broken with a past marked by the economic collapse of the decade 1975-1985 and the stagnation experienced in 1985-1995. Ensuring that Africa also benefits from initiatives to stimulate economies in the North would help restore that growth and return Africa and the world to a path of prosperity.

For more information about the work of the World Bank in Africa, visit:
www.worldbank.org/afr

The project Emergency Recovery and Community Support Project has changed to Closed

2009-01-01T05:00:00.000Z

The project Emergency Recovery and Community Support Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Emergency Recovery and Community Support Project for the Republic of Congo is to assist the recovery of communities living in smaller municipalities and rural areas (i.e. all areas outside the two main cities of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire). The program comprises four components: (i) Financing of priority local investments; (ii) Support to community organizations (iii) Capacity enhancement for central and local governments; and (iv) Balance of payments support. The Project is expected to assist Congo's stabilization and recovery process by: (i) contributing to improving living conditions in areas which to date have received limited external support and where poverty is acute; (ii) helping strengthen civil society in rural areas and small towns; (iii) facilitating the decentralization process and the effective provision of basic social services outside Brazzaville and Pointe Noire; and (iv) helping maintain the pace of economic reforms. The main risks are the possibility of renewed violence in some areas, difficulties on the path to reform, and a compromised administrative capacity for implementation.

The project Support to Basic Education Project has changed to Closed

2009-01-01T05:00:00.000Z

The project Support to Basic Education Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The development objectives of the Support to Basic Education Project, are to improve efficiency in the allocation and management of resources, improve the quality of the education services, and reduce inequities in the provision of these services. The Project will pursue a three-fold agenda of action: 1) build the capacity of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to prepare the system for decentralization, in particular, providing support to the Regional Departments of Education (DDEPSA) in the development, and monitoring of regional education plans, and strengthening their capacity to provide support to the school system; 2) provide support for the improvement of the quality of education services offered by providing direct support to schools, through the implementation of a National School Improvement Program; and, 3) support increased equity in the provision of services, by providing free textbooks, allocating resources based on a per capita formula, focusing rehabilitation efforts in underserved areas, and, providing support to out of school youth, and excluded populations, such as pygmies.

Consultations on the Bank Web Site

2008-12-09T15:37:38.000Z

Dear reader,

A few years ago, the World Bank’s Web site was noted as a leader among development organizations’ websites. As technology has rapidly advanced and user expectations evolved, our Web site too needs to change and adapt.

You come to our Web site because you are looking for the latest information on development. Our project information, data and research assist you in tackling your challenges or keeping up on the Bank’s activities.

Now we’re catching up. We are revamping our Web site and expanding our online capabilities to better satisfy our business needs and meet audience demands.

We’re examining all aspects of the site—content, technology, business needs and audience demands—to figure out what needs to stay, be improved or be removed.

This is a complex undertaking. We are currently gathering information to determine requirements for our future site.

Through our open online consultation, we are looking for comments from anyone who wishes to discuss their information needs and any difficulties they encounter with the site. The online consultation period ends on December 31, 2008.

All feedback we receive will inform the future design and functionality of the Web site by informing Bank management on audience needs.

Our ultimate goal is to make the Web site better support the institution’s mission of fighting global poverty and helping countries develop.

Your feedback will bring us closer to this goal.

Thank you,

Angie Gentile
Managing Editor, www.worldbank.org

Global Food and Fuel Crisis Will Increase Malnourished by 44 Million

2008-10-08T17:30:00.000Z

Contacts:
In Washington :Carl Hanlon 202-473-8087; chanlon@worldbank.org;
Philip Hay 202-473-1796
phay@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, October 8, 2008 – High food and fuel prices will increase the number of malnourished people around the world in 2008 by 44 million to reach a total of 967 million, a report from the World Bank says.

While food and fuel price increases may have moderated in recent months, prices remain much higher than previous years and show few signs of declining significantly, according to the report entitled “Rising food and fuel prices: addressing the risks to future generations”. Poor families around the world are being pushed to the brink of survival, causing irreparable damage to the health of millions of children. As families cut back on spending, there are also grave risks for the educational performance of poor children.

“While people in the developed world are focused on the financial crisis, many forget that a human crisis is rapidly unfolding in developing countries. It is pushing poor people to the brink of survival,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “The financial crisis will only make it more difficult for developing countries to protect their most vulnerable people from the impact of rising food and fuel costs.”

The report, due to be presented on Sunday to the Development Committee at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, says the food and fuel crisis could have long term effects on poor people and countries. Malnourished children cannot develop into healthy adults and become productive members of society who can contribute to the growth needed to lift themselves and their country out of poverty.

The report says priority should be given to a series of targeted measures. These include:

Making existing targeted cash (or near cash) transfer programs more generous;
Getting nutrition to infants and pregnant women;
expanding so-called ”in-kind” food distribution programs including school feeding and the distribution of fortified calorically dense food;
using fee waivers, lifeline-pricing and other forms of targeted subsidies for poor users/consumers; and
introducing additional measures to prevent children from dropping out of school, such as fee waivers, subsidies for school inputs, or cash transfers.

The report also argues that allocating the necessary amount of budget to finance an expansion of safety net programs may require pruning less-priority spending in other areas. But it notes that well-designed safety net programs do not have to be prohibitively expensive to be effective. Some of the most successful programs in the world cost well under 1 percent of Gross Domestic Product. Moreover, investing in safety net programs now will give governments new tools to address not just the current crisis, but future ones as well.

In May, the World Bank launched a $1.2 billion rapid financing facility to help poor countries cope with the food crisis. Since then, around US$850 million has been committed to finance seeds, plantings, and feeding programs. In April, Zoellick called for a New Deal for Global Food Policy that included short, medium and long-term measures to provide immediate help to poor people and farmers while increasing food production.

###

For more information on the Bank's work in nutrition, please visit: www.worldbank.org/nutrition

and for more on social safety nets, click here: www.worldbank.org/safetynets

The project Congo - Health Sector Services Development Project has changed to Active

2008-06-03T04:00:00.000Z

The project Congo - Health Sector Services Development Project has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The development objective of the Health Sector Services Development Project for Government of Congo (GOC) is to support the strengthening of the health system in order to effectively combat the major communicable diseases and improve access to quality services for women, children and other vulnerable groups. There are four components to the project. The first component of the project is strengthening leadership capacities in managing a functioning and decentralized health system. This component will strengthen management and leadership capacities at all levels within the government's decentralization program, including monitoring and evaluation. The second component of the project is development and implementation of an efficient and effective system for managing human resources for health (HRH). This component will support establishment of a separate HRH Directorate in the central Ministry with specific HR management functions and the technical capacity to create position descriptions and build a repository o f technical fields and professions employed throughout the health sector as well as design and set up a medium term development plan for HRH. The third component of the project is rehabilitation and equipment of health facilities. This component will support the mapping and priority and nonstandard-setting exercise and assist the GOC, in ensuring rational expenditure of their resources on phased rehabilitation of facilities, with special attention to the primary care level as well as establishing national equipment standards and norms and rational phased procurements plan. The fourth and the final component of the project is improvement of access to a package of quality essential health services (PSE). This component will support provision of a Package of Essential Services (PSE) to all Congolese, strengthen the procurement and efficient management of essential medicines and medical supplies building on the framework already established by the European Union (EU) under Project for the Support of Health System in Congo Brazzaville (PASCOB), empower communities in their roles as co-managers of health services addressing harmful traditional and social practices through communication for behavior change (BCC) and promote equitable access to quality health services for all.

Republicof Congo: Congo Health Sector Services Development Project

2008-05-29T22:24:48.000Z

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2008- The following project was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors:

IDA Grant: USD$40 Million

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The objective of the Congo Health Sector Services Development Project is to support the Government in the strengthening of the health system in order to effectively combat the major communicable diseases and improve access to quality services for women, children and other vulnerable groups. There are four components to the project. The first component of the project is strengthening leadership capacities in managing a functioning and decentralized health system. The second component of the project is development and implementation of an efficient and effective system for managing human resources for health (HRH). The third component of the project is rehabilitation and equipment of health facilities. The fourth and the final component of the project is improvement of access to a package of quality essential health services (PSE).

For more information, please call Aby Konate at (202) 473-8302 or e-mail here at akonate@worldbank.org

For project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P106851

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

Congo Brazzaville : World Bank approves US$40 million grant to expand health services

2008-05-29T21:13:13.000Z

Contacts:

In Washington : Herbert Boh +1 (202) 473-3548

hboh@worldbank.org

In Brazzaville : Clémentine Maoungou + 242-663-1970

cmaoungou@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2008– The Board of Directors of the World Bank today approved a US$40 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) for a Health System Development Project (PDSS).

The purpose of the PDSS is to enhance Congo’s health system by strengthening the Ministry of Health, Social Action and the Family (MSASF), thereby making it possible to combat the main communicable diseases effectively and improve access to quality healthcare for women, children and other vulnerable groups.

This project is part of the National Healthcare Development Plan (PNDS) and the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRSP) intended to improve access to services for the poor. It is also intended to help achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) focusing on reduced infant mortality, improved maternal health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and the control of malaria and other diseases.

The Project has four components:

Component 1 - Enhancing the leadership capacities required to manage a functional and decentralized health system: This component will strengthen management and leadership capacities at all levels within the Government’s decentralization program. The process will improve the ability to plan and manage sector activities within the framework of a coordinated partnership of stakeholders, and will be implemented through the following sub-components: development of the capacity to efficiently manage a decentralized health system; strengthening of financial management systems; and improved monitoring and evaluation.

Component 2 - Establishment of an efficient human resource management system for the healthcare sector: A human resource database containing baseline data has been developed. It will be used to create a Directorate of Health Sector Human Resources distinct from the Ministry’s central departments and responsible for specific HR management functions. This Directorate will have the technical ability to prepare position descriptions and to draw up a roster of technical areas and professions for the whole of the healthcare sector. It will also organize a multisectoral consultative framework enabling it to work with the Ministry of Education with a view to training personnel for employment with the MSASF. This component will include incentives for personnel in all areas (e.g., equitable programs of on-the-job and longer-term training, establishment of more transparent systems of results-based staff assignment and appointment, and merit- and skills-based promotion). The proposed program will receive and put in place a medium-term human resources development plan for the healthcare sector.

Component 3 - Rehabilitation and re-equipping of healthcare facilities: The proposed program will use an ongoing inventory of the status of healthcare centers to rehabilitate those facilities, assigning priority to primary healthcare centers and patient referral services. IDA will finance the establishment of a facilities map and a set of standards, and will help the Congolese Government make rational use of its resources to rehabilitate healthcare centers in several phases. Particular attention will be paid to primary care, especially in terms of: rehabilitation, maintenance and construction of infrastructure; and standardization and maintenance of facilities.

Component 4: Improved access to a high-quality Package of Essential Services (PES): This component will account for most of the IDA funding and will consist of the following four sub-components: definition and provision of a Package of Essential Services (PES); improved procurement and efficient management of essential drugs and medical supplies; community empowerment; and promotion of equitable access for all to high-quality care.

The Health System Development Project (PDSS) will be implemented over a five-year period by the Ministry of Health, Social Affairs and Family.

###

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

For more information about World Bank activities in Congo, visit: www.worldbank.org/congo

For more information on this project, click on:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=349199&menuPK=349247&Projectid=P106851

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

New report on economic growth offers lessons on achieving sustained, high economic growth

2008-05-21T17:11:32.000Z

Contacts:

In Washington:

Maya Brahmam at +1-202-473-6231 or email at mbrahmam@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2008 – The World Bank Group welcomes a new report by the independent Commission on Growth and Development, a global panel of eminent experts, which reveals important lessons from countries that have achieved high, long-term economic growth. The experts say the lessons learned could help policy makers in developing countries as they seek to set their countries on a steady growth path.

The Growth Report: Strategies for Sustained Growth and Inclusive Development says integration into the world economy, maintaining high rates of savings and investment, and committed, capable governments are among the key features of countries that have sustained growth rates above 7 percent for 25 uninterrupted years since World War II.

"This report underscores to the development community that one size doesn’t fit all." said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. I am especially pleased that it draws on input from first class practitioners and leaders who have hands-on pragmatic and practical experience of making inclusive development a success. This will help enrich the thinking and practice of the World Bank Group as well as others in the development field.” “

High, long-lasting growth is not easily achieved, but the report by some of the world’s top policy-makers and thinkers, believes it can be reproduced in developing countries, giving them a chance to reduce poverty and improve opportunity and quality of life for their citizens.

“We are acutely aware that there are no silver bullets to create long-running, inclusive growth, and that no single paradigm exists,” says Commission Vice Chair Danny Leipziger, who is also Vice President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management at the World Bank. “While seeking to identify those key elements that can lead to long running and inclusive growth, the report is clear that policy makers will need to customize and experiment with polices rather than follow any rigid set of guidelines.”

Commission Chairman Michael Spence said: " What makes the report so unique is that it was prepared by policymakers, many from developing countries, who have been in the trenches themselves and have learned what works and why. It is these commissioners who are now providing their insights to the next generation of policymakers on ways to improve growth prospects and the quality of life in the poor parts of the globe."

Spence is one of two Nobel Laureates on the 21-member commission comprising leaders from business, government and academia. The Commissioners come from 18 countries that include a broad mix of developing, emerging and developed economies, as well as small island states and populous, large countries.

###

To download full report click here:

http://www.growthcommission.org/

World Bank Broadens Transport Agenda

2008-05-21T17:00:00.000Z

Contacts
In Washington:
Roger Morier (202) 473 5675, rmorier@worldbank.org
Anna Piasecka (202) 458 7027, apiasecka@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2008 – The World Bank Group today launched a new transport business strategy for 2008-2012 that will help partner countries establish the governance, strategies, policies and services to deliver transport for development in a way that is economically, financially, environmentally and socially sustainable.

Called Safe, Clean, and Affordable… Transport for Development, the business strategy strengthens the alignment of the transport sector approach with the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2000. At the same time, it widens the directions and deepens the routes that will be taken to meet the evolving development agenda. It gives more attention to emerging trends, such as trade globalization, urbanization of populations; rising concerns about climate change, the increase in traffic congestion; and the recognition of access as a key to both economic opportunity and good governance.

“In striving to achieve its development objectives—and foremost to eradicate poverty—the World Bank Group is mobilizing the transport sector to the fullest possible extent,” said Katherine Sierra, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. ”To that end, the transport business strategy aligns Bank Group instruments along a few key strategic directions that will pave the way to truly sustainable development, one where transport plays a crucial role.”

“In a world with rising levels of greenhouse gases, poor road safety, and the too-frequent spread of communicable diseases along international routes, transport must be looked at anew. A coherent way forward requires innovative thinking and cooperation among sectors to optimize the role of transport without jeopardizing personal and commercial mobility.”

The Bank Group consulted widely in preparing its new business strategy, seeking contributions from over 75 transport development partners, governments, professional institutions, civil society organizations, multilateral and bilateral donors, and putting an early draft on its external website for four months to elicit public comments.

Safe Transport
Acknowledging the importance of transport for achieving public health outcomes within the Millennium Development Goals, the strategy stresses the need to mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to address safety in all transport modes, especially road transport. It also addresses the safety issue in air transport which, although globally much safer, still shows a safety record significantly affecting growth and investment prospects in some regions, in particular Sub-Saharan Africa. Transport and supply-chain security has also become a major issue in ensuring fair access of developing country exports to developed markets, and needs to be addressed as a new global public good.

“Road crashes kill an estimated 1.2 million people a year and injure 50 million more, disproportionately affecting the poor,” said Anthony Bliss, Lead Road Safety Specialist, Program Coordinator for the World Bank’s Global Road Safety Facility. “We are placing special emphasis on road safety, extending our support to include not only road safety components embedded in road infrastructure projects, but also larger stand-alone projects to formulate national policies and strategies that would improve road safety across the board. We will also pursue cross-sectoral approaches, such as including pre-hospital components in road programs and road safety components in health programs.”

Clean Transport
Urban air pollution, 90 percent of it generated by motor vehicles, kills an estimated 800,000 people each year. Transport now produces approximately 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reflecting the contribution of transport to the wider environmental aims of the Millennium Development Goals, the strategy encompasses the transport-energy-environment nexus, from the energy consumption to the emissions and climate change impact perspectives. Going forward, the World Bank Group will be working to help restrain transport energy consumption. It will be assessing and controlling transport projects emissions, favoring shifts to low carbon modes.

“We are setting guidelines for environmentally effective transport planning and decision making,” said Jamal Saghir, Director, Energy, Transport and Water Department and Chair of the Transport Sector Board. “We are seeking ways to mitigate the effects of transport on the climate—and the effects of climate change on transport asset. We intend to build climate change issues into transport project appraisals where appropriate.”

Affordable Transport
An estimated 1 billion people in low-income countries lack access to an all-weather road. Affordable transport can enhance mobility and inclusion. It can promote social, economic, and political integration, by keeping a country together despite geographic disparities, by overcoming potential disputes over access to resources, and by defusing the seeds of conflict that sometimes arise from feelings of isolation.

Marc Juhel, Sector Manager for Transport stressed the fact that affordability concerns not only the rural and urban poor, but also the whole freight economy, aiming at improving competitiveness to foster stronger economic growth:

“The strategy stresses the need for better knowledge and control of transport costs, for both passengers and freight, on domestic and regional, urban and rural settings. The implementation of an effective urban transport strategy, reaching out to the growing urban poor population, is a key element of this approach. On the freight side, the cooperative work on trade and transport facilitation—in particular on customs and transit issues—will be strengthened.”

World Bank contribution to transport over previous decade
Since the Bank’s 1996 transport strategy, Sustainable Transport, was endorsed by the World Bank’s Board of Directors, the Bank Group has committed around US$42 billion for more than 530 dedicated transport operations and transport components in over 500 non-transport specific projects in more than 100 client countries. Lending in fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007) reached over US$5 billion, amounting to 20 percent of World Bank Group new annual commitments.

###

View the transport business strategy—Safe, Clean, and Affordable… Transport for Development at: http://www.worldbank.org/transport

World Bank Group President Appoints Vice President of Institutional Integrity

2008-05-05T18:00:00.000Z

Contacts:
In Washington: Carl Hanlon (202) 473 8087
chanlon@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. May 5, 2008 – World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick has named South African Leonard McCarthy to head the Bank’s Department of Institutional Integrity (INT). McCarthy has earned international recognition for investigations and prosecutions of individuals engaged in corruption as head of South Africa’s Directorate of Special Operations.

“Leonard McCarthy is recognized worldwide for his integrity, independence, and effectiveness in fighting corruption and strengthening good governance,” says Zoellick. “This is the first time that the Department of Institutional Integrity will be headed at the level of Vice President, and McCarthy brings to the post stature, skill, and tested experience. This post is critical for our work, reputation, and fiduciary duty. I am confident that he will bring effective leadership to our highest obligation to protect the Bank’s assets and hold people, businesses, and governments responsible if they steal from the poor.”

McCarthy’s work with South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority has included investigating and prosecuting high profile cases of financial crime, organized crime, and high-level corruption. He has worked closely with African governments and law enforcement officials across the globe to expose and prosecute transnational financial crime. McCarthy was formerly a Director of Public Prosecutions appointed by President Nelson Mandela.

An experienced trial lawyer, he has held numerous positions in government, including Investigating Director in the Office for Serious Economic Offenses, Deputy Attorney General in Cape Province and Senior Public Prosecutor. He holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of South Africa in Cape Town.

Following talks with the South African government, President Mbeki has agreed to release McCarthy from service, to take up the position at the World Bank on June 30, 2008.

“I am honored to receive this appointment and to be joining the World Bank, I believe strongly in its vision, said McCarthy. “President Zoellick has made clear to me the strong emphasis he places on INT’s role, its need for strong, highly skilled people who will both pursue investigations and integrate anti-corruption work into Bank projects across the world. I am committed to delivering results and building on INT’s work to strengthen financial due diligence and ensure that precious development resources benefit people who need them most.”

McCarthy was selected from a list of candidates assessed by an internal search committee with the addition of former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, who led a review of INT last year. In his report Volcker called for greater attention to protect against corruption in designing and implementing Bank programs.

Mr. Volcker has welcomed the fact that: “the Bank is now implementing the recommendations of the Panel he chaired, importantly including elevating the head of INT to the level of vice president.”

###

World Bank Marks World Press Freedom Day with Study on Broadcasting and Development

2008-05-02T12:30:00.000Z

Contact:

In Washington: Christopher Neal, (202) 473-2049

Cneal1@worldbank.org

MAPUTO, May 2, 2008—The World Bank marked World Press Freedom Day by launching a study outlining conditions under which radio, television and online broadcasting can fulfil a vital role in development by making governments accountable, and giving voice to the world’s poor.

“Huge numbers of people, including those who can’t read, have access to broadcast media,” said Kreszentia Duer, of the World Bank Institute (WBI), who presented the study, Broadcasting, Voice and Accountability, at a conference here on freedom of expression hosted by UNESCO. “In countries with strong oral traditions, community broadcasting can enable people to share information and raise issues with a large audience, and hold government officials to account. This makes broadcasting a powerful tool for enhancing governance and promoting development.”

The 400-page study, subtitled A Public Interest Approach to Policy, Law and Regulation, is the result of five years of research by six media experts, including Ms. Duer, Steve Buckley, president of the World Association of Community Broadcasters; Toby Mendel, ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression; Seán Ó Siochrú, founder of the Campaign for Communication Rights in the Information Society; Monroe E. Price, of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania; and Marc Raboy, of Canada’s McGill University.

The study reviews broadcasting practices and regulations around the world, and identifies those which produce an “enabling environment” for broadcasting that is free, independent and pluralistic. These characteristics are essential, the report says, for broadcasting to perform an effective role in giving people voice, and ensuring government accountability.

Drawing from their research, the authors propose standards on freedom of expression, access to information, use and misuses of defamation law, content rules and limits to free speech, and the regulation of journalists. The study also offers guidelines on best practice for broadcast regulators, as well as the respective roles of public service, community non-profit, and commercial private sector broadcasters, all of which, it argues, should be present in a healthy media environment.

Co-author Steve Buckley notes that increased movement towards democracy in developing countries opens the way to build broadcasting that serves the public interest.

“Countries that are opening their economies, democratizing, and decentralizing public service delivery are looking for guidance on how to involve citizens in decisions that affect them,” he said. “Broadcasting, enabled by the right regulation and conditions, can empower groups through bottom-up participation.”

The book cites countries that have developed systems to enhance the quality and diversity of media content, while fully respecting freedom of expression, and identifies ways in which government regulation can expand access to broadcast media. Community broadcasting, for example, can be encouraged through special licensing arrangements that guarantee fair and equitable access to radio frequencies and financial support.

“This book focuses on useful proactive approaches to setting up, sustaining, and governing broadcasting systems across the world,” said Ruth Teer-Tomaselli, UNESCO Chair in Communication for Southern Africa at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. “It’s based on sound scholarship and provides practical advice for policymakers, media scholars and broadcasters alike.”

###

For more information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/WBI/0,,contentMDK:21747844~pagePK:209023~piPK:207535~theSitePK:213799,00.html

To order: http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=8100893

Youssou N’Dour Joins Top World Bank Officials in Calling for Immediate Action to Conquer Malaria

2008-04-24T17:41:29.000Z

Contact:

Carol Hooks: +1 202 458 9346

chooks@worldbank.org

Beldina Auma: +1 202 458 7307

baumaowuor@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2008 – The World Bank and partners in the global war against malaria are calling for an intense push to eliminate malaria as a major public health problem and end deaths from this ancient disease. This week, the Bank invited world music superstar Youssou N’Dour to perform before African ambassadors, Roll Back Malaria partners, Bank staff, and other distinguished guests. The occasion? World Malaria Day—an opportunity to focus attention on the challenge and opportunity malaria presents for those most directly affected and those able to help do something about it.

From his place at the top of the music charts, Youssou is doing his share, by reaching out to everyone from African youth who enjoy his music and have young siblings at risk, to world leaders who can apply vast resources to the problem. “The world has started a war against malaria, a war we can all win. We have a grand alliance, called Roll Back Malaria. Allies like the World Bank, the Global Fund, the U.S. and the U.N. are doing more. And on the first World Malaria Day, we have presidents and even basketball players involved. The high-level attention to malaria is just what we wanted when we started the Africa Live malaria concert in 2005, but it's still not enough. Mosquitoes don't care about visas—we need cross-border efforts like the Zambezi region proposes. With efforts like that, we can eliminate malaria," Youssou said.

Commitment from Africa and current partners is at an all-time high. Youssou, the World Bank, and partners across the globe are calling on others to join this winnable fight.

Malaria is preventable and treatable, but a million or more people – mostly African children – still die from it every year.

“The good news however, is that more African countries are showing that it is in fact possible to control malaria,” notes World Bank Vice President for Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili. “Despite difficult conditions and initial pessimism, countries such as Benin, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Zambia are successfully scaling up malaria control efforts through provision of bed nets and effective drugs. Certainly more countries can follow a similar path with enough resources and technical support.”

Critical to the success of these countries is the ability to ramp up malaria control efforts quickly and sustain the level of effort long enough to drastically reduce the number of people and mosquitoes harboring the parasite that causes malaria. Given the current immense global interest in malaria, now is the time to do it, and effective partnership is crucial to the equation.

"The malaria community is in a better place than ever before. The Roll Back Malaria Partnership is working to produce unprecedented collaboration. People on the ground and at the global level are excited about the prospect of ending deaths from malaria," said Ray Chambers, United Nations Special Envoy for Malaria. "We know what to do; now we just need to get it done." Additional financing is essential.

Since the 2005 launch of its Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa, the World Bank has committed US $467 million to malaria prevention and treatment in Africa, making it one of the top three funders of malaria control. This funding has been requested by African countries to buy long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), effective drugs, and supplies for spraying the walls of homes with insecticide. It includes money to strengthen health care systems so that they can better manage the life-threatening malaria cases that can consume up to 40 percent of public health resources in heavily-affected countries.

This funding comes from the World Bank’s International Development Association, better known as IDA. IDA is a mechanism by which the poorest countries receive no-interest loans or grants from the world’s richer countries. Every three years, donor countries meet to decide what each of them will contribute. Pledges made by donor countries in December 2007 mean that IDA 15 (the 15^th time the fund has been replenished) will contain a record US $41 billion.

While that sounds like it would buy more than enough bed nets, drugs, and insecticides to stop malaria, IDA resources are used to support an entire spectrum of development issues – roads, education, agriculture, health, and many others. Even under the “simple” rubric of health, any number of diseases and issues come into play. And it is the countries borrowing the money who decide how to spend it. The Bank has been able to commit $467 million for malaria control only because 18 African countries decided malaria was important enough to allocate a significant portion of their IDA funds to it.

From this next round of funding, the Bank anticipates that countries will spend significantly more of their IDA funds on malaria to take advantage of the current momentum around eliminating malaria as a public health threat. This would go a long way toward removing malaria as a major barrier to Africa’s economic growth.

"Defeating malaria is essential to Africa's development," emphasized Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. "In addition to making people physically miserable, malaria reduces productivity. When adults--or their children--are sick with malaria, they lose
time from their work, which means they cannot produce the food, money, or other things they and their countries need." She added, "Unless malaria is tackled in Africa, few countries there will meet FIVE key Millennium Development Goals on child health, maternal health, infectious disease, universal primary education, and the eradication of poverty. Malaria must be stopped, and the world is now poised to achieve this goal."

* * * * *

The World Bank Group is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. We use our financial resources, staff, and extensive experience to aid countries in reducing poverty, increasing economic growth, and improving the quality of life. The impact of malaria extends far beyond the realm of public health and exacts a heavy toll on development. This makes the disease central to the Bank’s development agenda. In 2005, the World Bank launched the Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa. Booster is a ten-year program designed to help African nations meet critical targets for malaria control and reducing child and maternal mortality.

For more information on the World Bank’s Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa, visit www.worldbank.org/afr/malaria.

For more information on the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, visit www.rbm.who.int

The project CONGO HEALTH SECTOR SERVICES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT is now in the pipeline.

2008-04-22T04:00:00.000Z

The project CONGO HEALTH SECTOR SERVICES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

World Bank Commits to Deepen Reforms to Better Serve Middle-Income Countries in Africa

2008-04-17T15:39:35.000Z

Contacts

In Washington: Herbert Boh (202) 473 3548

hboh@worldbank.org;

Dina ElNaggar (202) 473 3245

delnaggar@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2008 – The World Bank Group reiterated its commitment to reduce the non-financial costs of doing business with it and to expand the menu of products and services to better serve middle-income countries (MICs) in Africa.

“We have taken your feedback and tasked an institutional Working Group to come up with new innovative ways of serving MICs and are finalizing an Action Plan to guide our engagement with MICs in Africa,” said World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at a recent meeting.

The high-level consultation was held in Washington, DC, on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. It was as a follow-up to two earlier consultations, held in Tunis (Tunisia) in March 2006 and in Cairo (Egypt) in March 2008.

“The key objective of the Africa MIC Action Plan stresses the need for the Bank to provide services better, faster and cheaper; moving rapidly from development lending to a development partnership in MICs,” said Obiageli Ezekwesili, the World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region. The Africa MIC Action Plan proposes a three-year pilot of a different way of doing business in MICs - anchored in part on two pilot projects to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Botswana and Swaziland.

Recognizing that MICs value the Bank as a provider of cutting-edge knowledge services as well as financing, efforts within the Bank to better serve MICs focus on four key areas: (i) improving client responsiveness; (ii) expanding the range and utilization of financial products; (iii) enhancing the Bank’s knowledge services; and (iv) strengthening synergies between different parts of the Bank Group.

“Important progress has been made on this agenda. As a result of recent reforms, the World Bank Group has drastically cut back on the costs and time needed to prepare projects; extended lending to MICs in local currency; and provided lending to sub-sovereign entities,” explained Juan Jose Daboub, World Bank Managing Director.

“We are seeking innovation in the way we traditionally do business,” said Daniela Gressani, the World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Region, pointing to ongoing pilots for the use of country systems in procurement in Morocco and in environmental safeguards in Egypt and Tunisia.

Finance ministers lauded the Bank Group for the successful implementation of reforms since the Tunis consultation, notably the reduction in loan pricing; improvements in the response time and the speed of loan processing; and efforts to increase the use of country systems and to delegate more authority to field-based staff.

Going forward, the World Bank Group together with its partners in MICs and regional development institutions will continue to foster cooperation on agreed priorities and work on initiatives to advance the dialogue, including through consultations.

###

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

For more information on the World Bank in the Middle East and North Africa visit: www.worldbank.org/mna

World Bank President Calls for Plan to Fight Hunger in Pre-Spring Meetings Address

2008-04-02T15:53:10.000Z

April 2, 2008—In a speech today, World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick called for a "new deal" to combat world hunger and malnutrition through a combination of emergency aid and long-term efforts to boost agricultural productivity in developing countries.

The "New Deal for a Global Food Policy" is part of a suite of initiatives Zoellick outlined to advance development in the face of skyrocketing food and oil prices. He also called for a global trade deal to be agreed as soon as possible, detailed an initiative to help countries manage their wealth earned from high energy and mineral prices in a more inclusive way, and encouraged sovereign wealth funds to create a "One Percent Solution" for equity investment in Africa.

Agricultural Assistance

The World Bank will nearly double agricultural assistance to US$800 million in Africa. Zoellick also urged wealthy nations to help the UN’s World Food Program meet some $500 million in emergency food needs.

"The United States, the European Union, Japan and other OECD countries must act now to fill this gap – or many more people will suffer and starve," Zoellick said in an address sponsored by the Center for Global Development in Washington.

Zoellick said the "New Deal for a Global Food Policy" is needed to combat the "forgotten" Millennium Development Goal of overcoming malnutrition. Only about a tenth of the resources directed at HIV/AIDS goes to fight malnutrition, which causes 3.5 million deaths a year in children under 5 and has long-lasting impacts on health and achievement.

"Hunger and malnutrition are a cause, not just a result, of poverty," said Zoellick.

The World Bank estimates 33 countries face social unrest because of soaring food and energy prices.

The New Deal requires a shift from traditional food aid to a broader concept of food and nutrition assistance, such as cash or vouchers that can help build local food markets and farm production,.and create a "Green Revolution" for Sub-Saharan Africa, said Zoellick.

"This New Deal should focus not only on hunger and nutrition, access to food and its supply, but also the interconnections with energy, yields, climate change, investment, the marginalization of women and others, and economic resiliency and growth," said Zoellick.

"Food policy needs to gain the attention of the highest political levels, because no one country or group can meet these interconnected challenges."

Zoellick said the World Bank Group can help by:

Backing emergency measures that support the poor while encouraging incentives to produce and harvest food
Offering access to technology and science to boost yields
Helping countries counter weather-related risks, such as drought
Facilitating land-titling, local currency financing, working capital, distribution and logistics, and support for services on which farmers rely

"Income gains in agriculture have three times the power in overcoming poverty than increases in other sectors, and 75 percent of the world’s poor are rural, with most involved in farming," said Zoellick.

Trade Also Key to Lower Food Prices

Zoellick said the time was "now or never" to break the impasse in global trade talks. A "fairer and more open trading system" would encourage developing country farmers to expand production, he said.

"The poor need lower food prices now. But the world’s agricultural trading system is stuck in the past. If ever there was a time to cut distorting agricultural subsidies and open markets for food imports, it must be now."

An accord would give developing countries, big and small, more opportunities to become more productive and lower prices through trade. It would also infuse confidence in an economic system stressed by financial anxiety, he said.

However, "powerful voices across the political spectrum, including in my own country, are calling for, rationalizing, protectionism," Zoellick said. "This economic isolationism signals a defeatism that will reap the losses, not the gains, of globalization."

The trade talks are also a "critical test" for striking a global deal on climate change. "If negotiators of 150 economies cannot manage the political tradeoffs of the Doha Round to reap the clear benefits, it does not auger well for bringing developed and developing countries together on a new accord for climate change."

Sovereign Wealth Funds

Zoellick also outlined a plan to encourage emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil to invest about US$30 billion in African nations through government-sponsored wealth funds.

Such sovereign wealth funds currently hold about US$3 trillion in assets. They have come under scrutiny recently because of investments outside their own countries. Zoellick noted they need transparency and should be guided by best practices to avoid politicization, but "where some see sovereign funds as a source of concern, we see opportunity," said Zoellick.

The World Bank’s "One Percent Solution" involves creating the equity investment platforms and benchmarks to attract these investors, and allocating 1 percent of the assets to African growth, development and opportunity.

"This one percent could be the start of something much bigger, across more types of funds and countries, because the investment of wealth into equity for development offers opportunity, not something to fear."

Extractive Industries Initiative

Zoellick announced a new approach to help ensure that high energy and commodity prices translate into improvements in the lives of the poor.

The EITI++ builds on the transparency and good governance concepts of the existing multi-stakeholder Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). EITI publicizes and verifies company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. But many governments are emphasizing that transparent revenue reporting, while important, is not enough. The World Bank is therefore working with developing countries and other partners to frame a "comprehensive approach to supplement the original project."

EITI++ will include providing technical assistance to countries on the awarding of contracts, monitoring operations, collecting taxes, improving resource extraction and economic decisions, better managing price volatility, and investing revenues effectively in sustainable development.

An EITI++ approach will be launched in Guinea. "The successful development of Guinea’s rich resources can strengthen sustainable development for the entire region," Zoellick said.

"The EITI++ can advance inclusive and sustainable globalization by broadening the beneficiaries of resource development."

The project Avian Flu Emergency Preparedness Response is now in the pipeline.

2008-03-05T05:00:00.000Z

The project Avian Flu Emergency Preparedness Response is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of the National Statistical Organization has changed to Closed

2007-12-17T05:00:00.000Z

The project Strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of the National Statistical Organization has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project EMERGENCY REINTEGRATION PROGRAM is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-27T04:00:00.000Z

The project EMERGENCY REINTEGRATION PROGRAM is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of the National Statistical Organization is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-27T04:00:00.000Z

The project Strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of the National Statistical Organization is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project HIV/AIDS and Health (MAP program) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project HIV/AIDS and Health (MAP program) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Project's specific development objectives are to support actions by the Government of the Congo to low the spread of HIV-AIDS, and Strengthen support and care for people infected or affected by HIV-AIDS. The project has the following four components: Component 1) Sub-component 1A is to improve the health system so that it can respond to medical aspects of the epidemic and prevent HIV transmission, particularly through safe blood transfusion and better bio-security in general. Sub-component 1B) The National Strategic Plan for the fight against HIV-AIDS also sets forth the response of ministries other than the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) which have under vulnerable groups and at-risk sectors under their jurisdiction. The project supports these ministries. Component 2) Will support efforts that emerge from civil society to prevent the spread and to reduce the impact of HIV-AIDS. These efforts may come from local institutions such as NGOs, community-based organizations including faith-based organizations and parent-teacher associations, as well as trade unions, and to a degree, the private sector. Component 3) HIV-AIDS, civil conflict, and the decline of the public health system all contributed to the emergence of a large and growing cohort of orphans and other extremely vulnerable children (OVC) in the Congo. This component addresses the OVC issue at a meaningful scale by investing in the health, education and overall well-being of these children. Component 4) Sub-component 4A) Will strengthens the capacity of the Congo to fight against HIV/AIDS by supporting the CNLS, and its Permanent Executive Secretariat. Sub-component 4B) Will supports capacity strengthening and training (and supply of related equipment and materials) in the CNLS and its Permanent Executive Secretariat, in Government ministries, and in civil society. Sub-component 4C) Monitoring & Evaluation. This subcomponent follows a plan developed under the Project Preparation Facility. Sub-component 4D): Data collection at the national level. Because of instability and civil conflict, no one has collected systematic health and demographic data for the past 10 years. These data are necessary for rational planning of investments in health and in the fight against HIV-AIDS and for monitoring & evaluation. Therefore this component will support a Congo demographic and health survey.

The project Population, Health and Nutrition Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Population, Health and Nutrition Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project National Agricultural Extension and Adaptive Research Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project National Agricultural Extension and Adaptive Research Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The National Agricultural Extension and Adaptive Research Project will support the Government's efforts to increase the production efficiency and the income of small farmers by facilitating the development and dissemination of a relevant agricultural technology. It will be the first phase of a longer-term program aimed at building a national extension and adaptive research system responsive to farmers' needs, in particular those of the two target groups : youth and women. The project will also address in an integrated fashion all relevant aspects of smallholder farming systems. Project components include the following : a) reorganize and strengthen the Extension Service along the basic principles of the Training and Visit (T&V) system; b) strengthen the adaptive research program; c) implement a comprehensive staff training and rural promotion program using appropriate media capabilities; d) implement a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) program; e) provide management support; ) promote extension support for small ruminants husbandry and inland fish farming; and g) strengthen agricultural planning capabilities.

The project Structural Adjustment Loan Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Structural Adjustment Loan Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Technical Assistance Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Technical Assistance Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Technical Assistance Project (02) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Technical Assistance Project (02) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database