Cape Verde | World Bank

Status of projects in execution (SOPE) - FY09 : Africa region - Cape Verde

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.

Cape Verde - Small and Medium Enterprise Capacity Building and Economic Governance Project

Cape Verde - Energy and Water Sector Reform and Development Project

Ratings for the Energy and Water Sector Reform and Development Project for Cape Verde were as follows: outcomes were unsatisfactory, the risk to development outcome was substantial, the Bank performance was unsatisfactory, and the Borrower performance was also unsatisfactory. Some lessons learned included: the underestimation of the difficulties and risks related to privatization had a significant impact on project implementation. While there was broad agreement on the overall privatization scheme, there was insufficient appreciation and consensus on among other issues, the tariff, and the duration and exclusiveness conditions of the concession agreement. Moreover, even after the agreement had been signed, disagreements persisted about the timing and size of investments, source and cost of finance/loans, tariffs, earnings and efficiency/performance standards. The project suffered from an unrealistic timeframe for the implementation of the legal and regulatory reform. The implementation of the regulatory framework and entity was crucial for the success of this power/water project, but was designed and supported under a different International Development Association (IDA)-financed project, which created some difficulties during implementation. Putting in place robust and realistic tariff adjustment mechanisms is still essential for the viability of the power and water sectors. The issue of affordability, for the poorest consumers, has been a significant one at several points in the implementation of this project.

Cape Verde - Fourth Poverty Reduction Support Credit Project

Ratings for the Fourth Poverty Reduction Support Credit Project for Cape Verde were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was moderate, Bank performance was satisfactory, and Borrower performance was also satisfactory. Some lessons learned included: budget support has been catalytic in harmonizing aid to Cape Verde and budget support continues to be highly relevant to the Cape Verdean context. The use of budgetary support enabled the Government to finance key parts of the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP) that will be difficult to finance through an investment loan or single sector development policy operation. An additional advantage is the ability to embed sector policy within crosscutting issues such as civil service reform, improved expenditure management, and decentralization to increase the sustainability and impact on service delivery. Budgetary support proved to be a powerful instrument to unify donor assistance and dialogue around a core set of policy actions specifically, the provision of harmonized budget support through the Budget Support Group (BSG) clearly reduced transaction costs for the Government through a reduction in the number of visiting missions and country-specific reporting requirements. This is particularly important for a small country like Cape Verde where the public sector can be easily overwhelmed by aid and requests from donors. Budget support is a sophisticated instrument which requires governmental capacity to design and implement reforms and to monitor their impact. The reliance on national systems also raises capacity issues at all stages of the budget cycle, which were compounded in the Cape Verdean context by the limited number of technical staff and the high turnover of senior staff in several core ministries. Offsetting these constraints requires a combination of capacity building and technical support.

Cape Verde - First Development Policy Loan and Fifth Poverty Reduction Support Credit Project

Cape Verde - Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Capacity Building and Economic Governance Project

Cape Verde - Country partnership strategy : chairman's concluding remarks

Cape Verde - Country partnership strategy for the period FY09-FY12

This Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for FY09-12 sets out the proposed financial and technical support of the World Bank Group (WBG) in line with development priorities established by Cape Verde's Authorities. Cape Verde's overarching vision is that of achieving economic transformation on the basis of its geo-strategic, natural and cultural assets, notably as a hub for transshipment, offshore financial and other services and tourism. These priorities are the foundation for its Second Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP-II) for 2008-2011, which focuses on the same five pillars as the earlier GPRSP through 2008, namely public sector governance, human capital development, infrastructure, competitiveness, and social cohesion. Cape Verde achieved annual real economic growth of seven percent and reduced poverty by 10 percentage points during the previous CAS period through strong economic management. It has set ambitious goals to boost economic growth and reduce unemployment under the GPRSP-II that will be hampered by the global financial crisis, given the country's vulnerability to declines in tourism, remittances and foreign direct investment. Supporting Cape Verde to maintain the impetus of reforms and consolidate its progress on a strong medium term development agenda through this crisis period will be a key challenge for the strategy.

Synthesis

A Public Expenditure Review (PER) update was conducted in 2006 which highlighted: (i) the large and increasing weight of non-discretionary expenditures in the total budget; (ii) the importance of improving coordination among the various planning instruments; (iii) the need to strengthen public finance management; (iv) the fiscal risks that emerge from the energy sector; and (v) the need to further progress with the pension reform. During 2006-07 the Government implemented several of the 2006 PER update recommendations. Building on the findings of the 2006 PER update, in mid 2007 the Government and the World Bank decided to prepare jointly an updated PER that would inform the preparation of the second Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP-2) and the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS). The objectives of the PER were to: (i) examine recent macro and fiscal developments (chapter one and two); (ii) provide an update of the strengths and shortcomings of the public finance management system, the recent reforms implemented in this area and the new emerging challenges (chapter three); (iii) conduct an analysis of the fiscal decentralization issues, with particular emphasis on the municipalities' resources, expenditures, budget processes, capacity and systems, and accountability to the citizens (chapter four); and (iv) examine public expenditure issues in infrastructure, focusing on issues of adequacy, allocation and efficiency of spending in electricity, water, roads, air transportation, and ports (chapter five).

Background chapters

Doing business 2010 : Cape Verde - 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 Cape Verde. 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.

Status of projects in execution (SOPE) - FY08 : Africa region - Cape Verde

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.

Doing business 2009 : country profile for Cape Verde - 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 Cape Verde. 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.

Cape Verde - Second poverty reduction strategy paper and joint IDA-IMF staff advisory note : chairman's summing up

Cape Verde - Fourth Poverty Reduction Support Credit

The Fourth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC-4) supports the implementation of Cape Verde's first Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRSP-I). This one-tranche operation is a transitory one between the first and the second PRSC series, which will be based on the GPRSP-II finalized by the Government at end of May 2008. The policy dialogue and the results-based framework under PRSC-4 focus on the following pillars of the GPRSP-I: (i) promote good governance; (ii) develop human capital; and (iii) improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the social protection system. Specifically, PRSC-4 supports selected measures that aim to: (a) improve public expenditure management, reform and modernize the public administration, strengthen decentralization and municipal management capacity, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems; (b) improve quality and efficiency of basic health; and (c) modernize and rationalize social protection services, with a focus on improving the normative and operational framework for social protection services at the municipal level. The main risks associated with PRSC-4 are: (i) limited capacity in some ministries to pursue the reform agenda; (ii) decline in external concessional support at a faster pace than expected; (iii) fiscal risks (including accumulation of contingent liabilities and non-discretionary expenditure programs that could cause fiscal slippages and stall implementation of the more sensitive policy reforms); and (iv) continued increase in fuel and food prices could delay further poverty reduction, especially in rural areas, given that most of the food and all oil has to be imported.

Cape Verde - Road Sector Support Project : additional financing

This project paper concerns additional financing to the Government of Cape Verde for the Road Sector Support Project. The additional credit will support the completion of original project activities in view of unanticipated cost overruns arising from higher unit costs of inputs and will enable the project to meet its initial development objective to enhance the Borrower's road management capacity. This will be done through institutional reform of the road sector and improved functioning of civil works markets, and better access to social and economic opportunities due to improved mobility for affected populations. Cape Verde has realized gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaging 6.3 percent over the period 2002-2006, with real GDP growth in 2006 reaching 10.8 percent. The fast economic growth in Cape Verde is mostly explained by public and private investment directed principally towards infrastructure development and tourism. Reflecting this solid economic performance, Cape Verde graduated to middle income status on January 1, 2008. The asset value of the national road network is increased and sustained, and overall indicators of socio-economic benefits due to improved mobility are achieved along the road sections rehabilitated.

Cape Verde - Road Sector Support Project

Abbreviated resettlement plan

The objective of the Road Sector Support Project is to improve, by widening, the present cobblestone road from Eito, then establish a bridge where it presently enters the river bed. The negative impacts of the project are as follows: acquisition of land, loss of agricultural land, affect on livelihood, displacement of people, cutting of trees, and loss of other assets. The mitigation measures of the project are as follows: (i) Paul Municipality will give the owner 200 m2 of land with similar characteristics in the neighbourhood, as compensation; (ii) sugar cane plantation on this land, the owner will be compensated in cash; (iii) and the involving active participation of the local in the policy design and implementation, and welcoming suggestions from the local people who will be affected by the project implementation.

Cape Verde - Second growth and poverty reduction strategy paper

In a long-term perspective, Cape Verde has made huge strides forward in a development process marked by outstanding achievements, as attested by a wide range of indicators in the economic, financial, social, institutional, infrastructural, environmental, and other areas. This paper is divided into three sections: (1) current context, encompassing both the macroeconomic framework and the real economy, the socioeconomic dimension, the structure and dynamics of poverty, progress made in the central aspects of the political situation, and the vulnerabilities; (2) for a transformation agenda that, given the progress the country has made, the lessons it has learned, and the challenges it faces, as well as the new requirements generated by its graduation to middle-income country (MIC) status and its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to a strategic partnership with the European Union (EU), creates a vision for the future based on: (i) the challenges of transformation; and (ii) medium- and long-term strategic objectives, consisting of: (a) transformation of the government as a whole; (b) modernization of the public administration, fundamental for the competitiveness of the economy; (c) the imperative of permanent gains for democracy; (d) the imperative of a modern, competitive economy; (e) a knowledgeable society made up of highly skilled human resources; (f) promotion of the country's cultural fundamentals, (g) active social solidarity, (h) continuous efforts to reduce poverty and guide economic growth; and (i) the creation of strong abilities to manage development; and (3) major strategic development aims, presented in five pillars, as follows: good governance, effectiveness and equity; human capital; competitiveness for private-sector-led growth; infrastructure and land use management; and social cohesion. Poverty deserves to be treated across policies and policy measures, within an integrated view of the development process, in a context of globalization, economic openness, and the reservation of a major role for the private sector in economic growth, in the creation of productive, employment, and income-generating enterprises, as a prerequisite for poverty reduction. The paper is accompanied by documents that interpret the logical framework and the monitoring and evaluation system, covering budgeting, the indicators, and the targets for projects whose priorities were set by government departments.

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

2009-11-12T17:00:00.000Z

Contacts:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Cape Verde, Senegal, Sierra Leone: West Africa Regional Fisheries Program

2009-10-20T21:58:02.000Z

WASHINGTON, October 20, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

Cape Verde, Senegal, Sierra Leone: West Africa Regional Fisheries Program

IDA Grant: US$ $55 million equivalent

Project ID: P108941

Project Description: The West Africa Regional Fisheries Program in Cape Verde, Senegal, Sierra Leone aims to increase sustainably the overall wealth generated by the exploitation of the marine fisheries resources of West Africa, and the proportion of that wealth captured by West African countries. The operation will strengthen the capacity of Cape Verde, Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone to: govern and manage targeted fisheries, reduce illegal fishing and increase local value added to fish products.

Media Contact

Francois Gouahinga

(202) 473-0696

fgouahinga@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P108941

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

The project HIV/AIDS MAP Supplemental has changed to Closed

2009-07-02T04:00:00.000Z

The project HIV/AIDS MAP Supplemental has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

This additional financing for Cape Verde HIV/AIDS project satisfies the conditions for additional financing for investment lending: (a) it will support activities that will increase the project's impact in a manner consistent with the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) presented to the Board in March 2002; (b) the current IDA financed project is properly implemented; (c) activities to be financed have shown results under the ongoing project; and (d) the closing date will be within the limit of three years after closing of the initial project. The additional financing will also help set up mechanisms to ensure sustainability after project completion.

The project HIV/AIDS PROJECT has changed to Closed

2009-07-02T04:00:00.000Z

The project HIV/AIDS PROJECT has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

This project supports the goal of the national HIV/AIDS strategy of the government of Cape Verde, which is to reduce the spread of HIV infection in the country. To achieve this goal, the project will also support the following objectives: 1) mitigation of the health and socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS at individual, household, and community levels, thus sustaining an economically productive population; and 2) establishment of a strong and sustainable national capacity to respond to the epidemic. Under the regional MAP II (report no. 20727), this project finances HIV/AIDS activities for the period 2002-2006. It has four components that reflect the two-tiered decentralized administrative sstructure in Cape Verde at national and municipal levels. Apart from the component on project facilitation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation (which will support facilitation and coordination of the project), each of the remaining three components supports the full spectrum of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support activities that are appropriate at the respective level. The other three project components are: capacity building, public sector initiatives, and civil society and private sector initiatives.

The project CV-SME Capacity Building and Economic Governance Project is now in the pipeline.

2009-05-27T04:00:00.000Z

The project CV-SME Capacity Building and Economic Governance Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Cape Verde - DPL 1/PRSC V is now in the pipeline.

2009-05-21T04:00:00.000Z

The project Cape Verde - DPL 1/PRSC V is now in the pipeline. 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

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

The project POVERTY REDUCTION SUPPORT CREDIT IV has changed to Closed

2008-10-15T04:00:00.000Z

The project POVERTY REDUCTION SUPPORT CREDIT IV has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

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.

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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 JSDF TF054211 Access to Legal Services for Vulnerable Groups inc. Women has changed to Closed

2008-09-10T04:00:00.000Z

The project JSDF TF054211 Access to Legal Services for Vulnerable Groups inc. Women has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project POVERTY REDUCTION SUPPORT CREDIT IV has changed to Active

2008-07-09T04:00:00.000Z

The project POVERTY REDUCTION SUPPORT CREDIT IV has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Cape Verde: Fourth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC-4)

2008-07-08T21:18:08.000Z

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2008- The following project was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors:

IDA Credit: US$10 million

TERMS: Maturity = 40 Years; Grace Period = 10 Years

Program Description: The Fourth Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC-4) aims to support the implementation of Cape Verde's first Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRSP-I). This one-tranche operation is a transitory one between the first and the second PRSC series, which will be based on the GPRSP-II finalized by the Government at end of May 2008. The policy dialogue and the results-based framework under PRSC-4 focus on the following pillars of the GPRSP-I: (i) promote good governance; (ii) develop human capital; and (iii) improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the social protection system.

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

For program documents, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P090644

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

US$10 Million to Support Social Sectors in Cape-Verde

2008-07-08T20:42:29.000Z

Contacts

In Washington: Eric Chinje (202) 458 8418

echinje@worldbank.org

In Dakar: Mademba Ndiaye (221) 849 50 00

mademba@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON – July 8, 2008 - The World Bank approved today a US$10 million Poverty reduction support credit (PRSC-4) to support the last year of implementation of Cape Verde’s first Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRSP-I). This credit will specifically help the archipelago of 472,000 inhabitants to improve the public expenditure management, to reform and modernize the public administration and to strengthen the decentralization and municipal management capacity.

Ms. Manuela Francisco, Economist and Team task leader at the World Bank, assured that this one-tranche operation is a transition between the first and the second PRSC series, which will be based on the GPRSP-II already finalized by the Government. She added that this new credit “will support the improvement of quality and efficiency of basic health, modernization and rationalization of the social protection services, with a focus on improving the normative and operational framework for social protection services at the municipal level”.

The measures supported by the PRSC are expected to have a significant positive impact on poverty reduction, including by enhancing transparency and accountability in public resources use. This fourth budget support is also to support the expansion of health infrastructure, particularly in remote areas, that would increase access to quality health services for the poor, and the strengthening and extension of basic social protection to the poor.

Ms. Francisco recalled that the PRSC-4 supported three of the five pillars of the GPRSP-1. Promotion of good governance, the development of human capital, and the improvement of the effectiveness and sustainability of the social protection system,

Budget support in Cape Verde has been catalytic for donor harmonization around key policy measures and results, noted the Task team leader, adding that “the PRSC has been prepared in close coordination with IMF and its Policy Support Instrument review".

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

For more information about World Bank’s activities in Cape Verde visit: http://www.worldbank.org/capeverde

For more information about this project, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=349623&menuPK=349657&Projectid=P106502

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

The project Cape Verde Road Sector Support Project has changed to Active

2008-06-29T04:00:00.000Z

The project Cape Verde Road Sector Support Project has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

Cape Verde- Road Sector Support Project

2008-06-26T18:26:10.000Z

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2008- The following projects was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors:

IDA Credit: US$5 million

TERMS: Maturity = 40 Years; Grace Period = 10 Years

Program Description: This project aims to enhance the Government of Cape Verde’s road management capacity. This would be done through institutional reform of the road sector and improved functioning of civil works markets, and better access to social and economic opportunities due to improved mobility for affected populations.

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

For more information, please visit the Projects website.

The project Cape Verde Road Sector Support Project is now in the pipeline.

2008-05-29T04:00:00.000Z

The project Cape Verde Road Sector Support Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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

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.

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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 POVERTY REDUCTION SUPPORT CREDIT IV is now in the pipeline.

2008-02-11T05:00:00.000Z

The project POVERTY REDUCTION SUPPORT CREDIT IV is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Energy and Water Sector Reform and Development Project - GEF has changed to Closed

2008-01-02T05:00:00.000Z

The project Energy and Water Sector Reform and Development Project - GEF has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project JSDF TF054211 Access to Legal Services for Vulnerable Groups inc. Women is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-27T04:00:00.000Z

The project JSDF TF054211 Access to Legal Services for Vulnerable Groups inc. Women is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Public Sector Reform And Capacity Building Project (02) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Public Sector Reform And Capacity Building Project (02) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Second Public Sector Reform and Capacity Building Project in Cape Verde, will continue the reform process, towards enabling private sector development. The project is consistent with the Country Assistance Strategy, in that it will assist towards macroeconomic management capacity, and develop effective procedures for public finance management to ensure a balanced budget. The components thus include: 1) strengthening of macroeconomic and public finance management, and expansion of legal and regulatory reforms. The component will provide technical assistance, training, and equipment, to foster statistical planning and public finance control, and, to develop new legal codes, and network courts; 2) preparation of a strategic Public Administration Reform Action Plan, to improve governance and institutional development, through improved accountable public administration practices. A study tour on government structures, and practices, in comparable countries will be made available, and, technical assistance for pilot reforms of the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Justice, will be provided.

The project Road Sector Support Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Road Sector Support Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Social Sector Development Project (Supplemental Credit) is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Social Sector Development Project (Supplemental Credit) is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The credit will supplement the ongoing Social Sector Development Project, and support the project development objectives in terms of direct impact on the poor, through employment generation, and sustainable improvements in living conditions. It will also allow meeting the longer-term institutional development objectives, to increase the capacity of the Government, municipalities and community groups, design and implement poverty reduction strategies. This proposed supplemental credit meets the requirements, given: a) the cost overrun is due to exceptional circumstances beyond the borrower's control; b) the loan is being implemented in compliance with covenants; c)it is impossible to reduce the scope of the project to fit the available resources, without significantly impairing the project's economic viability, or capacity to achieve its objectives; d) the Borrower is unable to obtain additional financing for the proposed activities from the other donors involved in the sector; e) the time available is too short to process a further freestanding Bank loan; f) the borrower is committed to the project, and the implementing agencies have demonstrated competence in carrying it out. For these reasons, the supplemental credit will help finance public works and employment creation sub-projects, as well as capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation.

The project CAPE VERDE - PRIVATIZATION TA PROJECT is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project CAPE VERDE - PRIVATIZATION TA PROJECT is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The development objective of the Privatization and Regulatory Capacity Building Project is to support the Government of Cape Verde (GOCV) efforts to alleviate poverty through the achievement of a higher, private sector-based economic growth. The Project will support GOCV policy of: (a) reducing the size of the State and changing its role from that of an implementor to one that provides an enabling environment necessary for private sector development; and (b) increasing private participation in key economic sectors including utilities, trade and transport, through the development of effective policy and regulatory frameworks. The project components include: (a) an accelerated privatization program, including support to this program, support to the public enterprise staff retrenchment plan, and public communication campaigns; (b) a consolidated regulatory framework, including the establishment of regulatory arrangements and institutions, support to civil aviation regulation, support to postal and telecommunication regulation, support to maritime transport regulation, support to urban transport regulation, and support to pharmaceuticals regulation and Consumer Product Standard and Quality Control Agency; and (c) project coordination.

The project CV-Education & Training Consolidation & Modernization is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project CV-Education & Training Consolidation & Modernization is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Education and Training Consolidation and Modernization Project extends the Basic Education and Training Project (report no. 13568). This project aims to a) maintain and consolidate the recent reforms in primary education and in demand-driven training and apprenticeship programs initiated under the earlier project; and b) assist the government of Cape Verde in carrying out a comprehensive sector study, addressing issues of quality and equity, in order to identify cost-effective options for the sustainable development of the education/training system (ETS) through the medium term. The project also provides the underpinnings for a human resource development program which the Government intends to launch in 2001. The project has four components. The first reinforces the integration of basic education by improving primary school infrastructure and increasing textbook supply and teacher guides; and reinforces training and apprenticeship programs, strengthening the sector's policy and advisory bodies and improving the quality and efficiency of employment surveys and job placement services. The second component funds a qualitative assessment of education subsectors. The third component supports field-testing of selected options; and supports consultation, information, and communication. The fourth component builds the capacity of the education and the employment and training ministries.

The project ECO. REFORMS SUPPORT is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project ECO. REFORMS SUPPORT is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Energy and Water Project is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Energy and Water Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Energy and Water Sector Reform and Development Project will increase private sector participation in the infrastructure sectors, and improve social development. In pursuit of stable macroeconomic frameworks, policy reforms will be consolidated, and, poverty alleviation accelerated. The project will improve the supply of power, water, and sanitation systems, increasing the operational and end-user efficiency of infrastructure sectors. Renewable energy sources will be developed, as will a sound management of water resources. The components of the project call for: 1) reforms and development of the power sector, supporting privatization of public entities, its financial restructuring, and, the implementation of regulatory and legal frameworks. Demand-side management and energy efficient equipment are included as marginal economic extension and environmental liability mitigation; 2) renewable energy promotion and development, decentralizing wind/solar photovoltaic systems; 3) reform and development of the water sector, supporting new regulatory/legal frameworks, new autonomous water companies, and, extending water networks; 4) sanitation development and improvement, through the construction of wastewater reuse systems; and, 5) Project coordination/management, supporting institutional strengthening.

The project Energy and Water Sector Reform and Development Project - GEF is now in the pipeline.

2007-10-25T04:00:00.000Z

The project Energy and Water Sector Reform and Development Project - GEF is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database