Africa World Bank

Niger: The International Development Association (IDA) Approves a US$10 Million Grant for the Capacity-Building Project of the Ministry of Economy and Finance

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:22:25 GMT

Contacts

In Washington Anand Rajaram: 458-2359

Arajaram@worldbank.org

Robert A. Yungu 458-2491

ryungu@worldbank.org

In Niamey, Niger,

Ibrahim Cheick Diop 227-20 73 56 16

Idiop@worldbank.org

Washington, July 2, 2009 – The Board of Directors of the International Development Association today approved a five-year technical assistance grant for US$10 million to support the reform process at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which seeks to build the capacity required for implementation of Public Financial Management (PFM) reform.

The World Bank and the other development partners have noted in several implementation completion reports (ICRs) on PFM reform projects that weak public sector capacity is a major obstacle to the implementation of reform programs in Niger. Indeed, all the ICRs on PFM reform projects indicate that the first and probably the most important lesson to be learned is the need to couple the design of a major political and institutional reform program for public financial management with the implementation of a comprehensive capacity-building project supporting each main objective of the components of the PFM program.

The Government in turn recognized the importance of capacity building to the success of PFM reforms.

It is against this backdrop that the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in view of expected increased revenues, particularly from the mining and oil sector, requested the World Bank to provide assistance to strengthen, modernize, and reform its ministry.

The World Bank’s Country Manager in Niger, Ousmane Diagana, noted that “this project is fully consistent with the World Bank’s new 2008–2012 Country Assistance Strategy for Niger, which proposes a program that focuses on supporting engines of growth, which includes strengthening public finance management and improving access to basic social services.”

This reform will focus on specific areas, including the strengthening of Directorates General, the acquisition and use of decision-making tools, training, research, and the mobilization of experts in the country and in the Diaspora.

The project has three key components, namely (i) capacity building; (ii) use and streamlining of information and financial management systems; and (iii) project coordination support.

Component A: Capacity Building (US$3 million)

Three sub-components were selected to support capacity building, namely (i) capacity building of key MEF personnel; (ii) support to training institutes; and (iii) support to the Diaspora program.

Component B: Use and Streamlining of Information Systems (US$5.5 million)

This component includes the following activities:

- Implementation of an intranet/internet system (US$2.5 million);

- Streamlining and upgrading of systems (US$2 million);

- Upgrading of budget information systems;

- Upgrading of customs administration information systems;

- Upgrading of tax administration information systems; and

- Upgrading of the cash management system and support for reform of the Treasury.

Component C: Support to the Project Coordination Unit (US$1.5 million)

The main activities undertaken by the Project Coordination Unit include (i) the preparation of annual work plans, procedures manuals, and procurement plans; (ii) the conduct of fiduciary and monitoring activities; (iii) the coordination of technical works related to the project’s components; and (iv) leadership with respect to the preparation and implementation of the project.

Monitoring and Evaluation System

A monitoring and evaluation system will be established in the Project Coordination Unit to monitor and evaluate the progress of the proposed IDA project, in the wider PFM reform context.

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Niger: Reform Management and Technical Assistance Project

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:48:09 GMT

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

Niger: Reform Management and Technical Assistance Project

IDA Grant: US$10 million equivalent

Project ID: P108253

Project Description: The proposed operation is a five-year technical assistance grant that seeks to support the reform process at the Ministry of Economy and Finance by developing capacities that are needed to implement the PFM reform.

Media Contact

Ibrahim Cheick Diop

+ (227) 20 73 56 16

idiop@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P108253

Siemens to pay $100m to fight corruption as part of World Bank Group settlement

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:26 GMT

Contacts:

World Bank: David Theis

(202) 458-8626

Siemens AG: Joern Roggenbuck

+49 (89) 636-33581

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2009 —The World Bank Group today announced a comprehensive settlement with Siemens AG in the wake of the company’s acknowledged past misconduct in its global business and a World Bank investigation into corruption in a project in Russia involving a Siemens subsidiary. The settlement includes a commitment by Siemens to pay $100 million over the next 15 years to support anti-corruption work, an agreement of up to a four-year debarment for Siemens’ Russian subsidiary, and a voluntary two-year shut-out from bidding on Bank business for Siemens AG and all of its consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates

As part of the settlement, Siemens has also agreed to co-operate to change industry practices, clean up procurement practices and engage in collective action with the World Bank Group to fight fraud and corruption. Siemens will also provide information on any additional cases of wrongdoing to the Bank’s Institutional Integrity Vice Presidency (INT), which investigates fraud and corruption in Bank Group-financed activities.

“This settlement provides significant consequences for past wrongdoing by Siemens. At the same time, Siemens ongoing extensive cooperation could help the World Bank hold more corrupt firms and individuals accountable for diverting precious development resources away from the people who need them,” said Leonard McCarthy, Integrity Vice President at the World Bank. “This ground-breaking settlement advances the World Bank’s Governance and Anti-corruption agenda while supporting the new management team at Siemens which has introduced a robust and comprehensive compliance program and has committed to clean up the company and end corrupt practices in Siemens operations world-wide.”

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Bank to eliminate fraud and corruption in our markets and we see this as confirmation of our work to establish a robust compliance program and to pursue collective action together with the Bank in those markets,” said Andreas Pohlmann, Siemens Chief Compliance Officer.

As part of the settlement agreement, the Siemens AG affiliate, ‘Siemens Russia’ will face up to a four year debarment in connection with violations, prior to 2007, following an investigation by the World Bank into corrupt practices under the Bank-financed transportation project in Russia, the Moscow Urban Transport Project. Siemens two year voluntary restraint means it loses the right to bid on Bank-financed projects until December 31, 2010. Siemens will now have to withdraw any bids not accepted as of January 2009 when the restraint period takes effect.

Siemens’ commitment to pay $100 million to support global efforts to fight fraud and corruption would include providing funds to organizations and projects aimed at combating corruption through collective action, training, education. The money will also be directed to helping governments to recover assets stolen by corrupt leaders, and strengthening efforts to identify and crack-down on corrupt practices.

The World Bank Group will have audit rights over the use of these funds and veto rights over the selection of anticorruption groups or programs receiving funds.

Siemens cooperation with the World Bank follows a series of international investigations and/or legal proceedings in numerous jurisdictions around the world related to fraud or corruption in Siemens' operations. In December of last year Siemens settled related allegations made by US and German authorities including the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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

IMF and World Bank Support the Central African Republic's Completion Point Under the Enhanced HIPC Initiative and Approve Debt Relief Under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:23:38 GMT

Contacts:

Washington: Sharzad Sharjeel

(202) 458-5584

ssharjeel@worldbank.org

C.A.R: Edmond Dingamhoudou
235-52-3360

edingamhoudou@worldbank.org

Washington DC-June 30, 2009. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) have agreed that the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) has made sufficient progress and taken the necessary steps to reach the completion point under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The C.A.R. becomes the 25th country to reach the completion point under the Initiative.

Debt relief under the Enhanced HIPC Initiative from all of C.A.R.'s creditors has been revised downward to US$578 million in net present value (NPV) terms ¹ from US$583 million estimated at the time of the decision point. HIPC debt relief from IDA and the IMF amounts to US$207 million and SDR 17.19 million (US$ 26.77 million) in NPV terms, respectively.

In reaching the HIPC completion point, C.A.R. also becomes eligible for further debt relief from the IMF, IDA, and the African Development Fund (AfDF) under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). MDRI relief net of HIPC assistance would lead to a nominal ²reduction of debt owed to IDA and the IMF by US$182 million and SDR 1.9 million (US$ 2.9 million) respectively.

To reach the completion point, the C.A.R. completed a number of measures aimed at preparing and implementing a national poverty reduction strategy and maintaining a stable macroeconomic environment. In addition, the authorities have made good progress in implementing measures in the area of transparency, structural reforms in the forestry and mining sectors, civil service reform, public debt management, social sectors and HIV.

Martin Petri, IMF Mission Chief for C.A.R., noted that "the authorities are to be commended for reaching this important milestone. Despite a difficult post-conflict environment, they have undertaken important reforms to reach the Completion Point for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative. Debt relief will reduce significantly C.A.R.'s debt burden and free up resources to finance spending in areas critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goals."

"We are very pleased that the Boards of the Bank and the Fund have approved full debt relief for C.A.R. under the HIPC Initiative and MDRI," said Mary Barton-Dock, World Bank Country Director for CAR. "This confirms C.A.R.'s commitment to improve governance, foster transparency in public finance and debt management, accelerate reforms in the forestry and mining sectors, and strengthen social programs, as reflected in the Completion Point triggers. These reforms are critical for fostering increased economic growth and improved living standards in CAR. My Fund colleagues and I congratulate the C.A.R. authorities on this achievement. At the same time we urge them to maintain momentum toward the goals of their national poverty reduction strategy," she added.

ANNEX

The HIPC Initiative

In 1996, the World Bank and IMF launched the HIPC Initiative to create a framework in which all creditors, including multilateral creditors, can provide debt relief to the world's poorest and most heavily indebted countries, and thereby reduce the constraints on economic growth and poverty reduction imposed by the debt-service burdens in these countries. The Initiative was modified in 1999 to provide three key enhancements:

Deeper and Broader Relief. External debt thresholds were lowered from the original framework. As a result, more countries have become eligible for debt relief and some countries have become eligible for greater relief;

Faster Relief. A number of creditors began to provide interim debt relief immediately at the "decision point." Also, the new framework permitted countries to reach the "completion point" faster; and

Stronger Link between Debt Relief and Poverty Reduction. Freed resources were to be used to support poverty reduction strategies developed by national governments through a broad consultative process.

To date, 35 HIPC countries have reached their decision points, of which 26 (including C.A.R.) have reached the completion point.

The MDRI

At the July 2005 G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, G8 leaders pledged to cancel the debt of the world's most indebted countries, most of which are located in Africa. The aim of this Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) was to reduce further the debt of HIPCs and provide additional resource to help them reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

The MDRI is separate from the HIPC Initiative but linked to it operationally. Under the MDRI, three multilateral institutions—the World Bank's International Development Association, the International Monetary Fund, and the African Development Fund—provide 100 percent debt relief on eligible debts to countries having reached the HIPC completion point.³ Unlike the HIPC Initiative, the MDRI is not comprehensive in its creditor coverage. It does not involve participation of official bilateral or commercial creditors, or of multilateral institutions other than the above-mentioned three.

¹ Net present value of debt is the discounted sum of all future debt service obligations (interest and principal)

² Nominal terms refer to the actual dollar value of reduction in debt stocks.

³ The IMF also provided MDRI debt relief to non-HIPCs whose income per capita is below US$380 in order to ensure uniformity of treatment in the use of IMF resources.

World Bank Approves Additional Grant of US$180 Million for the Southern African Power Market Project

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:44:54 GMT

Contacts
In Washington:

Shahzad Sharjeel

(202) 458-5584

ssharjeel@worldbank.org

In DRC:

Louise Engulu

+243 994 9015

lengulu@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2009—The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors yesterday approved an additional Grant in the amount of US$180.62 million for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) component of the Southern African Power Market Project (SAPMP) approved in November 2003, and for a formal restructuring. This will bring the total World Bank contribution to the project to $358.12 million, enable implementation to be completed by 2012. Other co-financiers are the European Investment Bank ($47 million equivalent), and the national electric power utility, SNEL ($6.86 million). The Copper Belt Energy Corporation of Zambia is contributing an additional $18 million to construct the transmission link between DRC and Zambia

The Project’s specific focus is to rehabilitate and reinforce an existing 2,300 kilometer high voltage power transmission line from the Inga hydropower stations to Kasumbalesa at the border with Zambia, which is the backbone of the DRC power transmission system as well as the main artery for conveying power to the industrial heartland of the country in the Katanga Province and further on to the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) through Zambia.

"These investments in power and telecommunications infrastructure are critical, not only for serving the needs in these sectors in DRC to support economic growth, but also to promote orderly development of increased power trading and the ability of DRC to attract funding for the development of its large hydropower potential in the future." said Samuel O' Brien, the World Bank’s Task Team Leader for the project.

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For more information on the World Bank’s work in Africa visit:

http://www.worldbank.org/afr/

World Bank Provides Credit of $35 million for Flagship Project to Promote Sustainable Tourism Development in Ethiopia

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:30:14 GMT

Contacts
In Washington:

Shahzad Sharjeel
(202) 458-5584
Ssharjeel@worldbank.org

In Addis Ababa:

Gelila Woodeneh
(011) 6627700
gwoodeneh@worldbank.org

Washington, June 30, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the first-ever sustainable tourism development project in Sub-Saharan Africa, a US$ 35 million International Development Association (IDA) Credit to the Government of Ethiopia. This initiative to develop the sector is guided by the vision that tourism should be sustainably developed and utilized for economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction whilst preserving and enhancing the country’s social, cultural and environmental assets.

The Ethiopian tourism sector, which accounts for about 15 per cent of foreign currency earnings, represents the third largest export earner and has significant growth potential. Since 2005, the government has given increased attention to the sector and aims to put the country among the top 10 African tourist destinations by the year 2020. This requires important investments in the preservation of cultural assets, the development of infrastructure and tourism facilities, skills enhancement, institutional development and community engagement.

“The proposed project provides much needed assistance to Ethiopia to unleash the unique potential of Ethiopia’s tourism sector through product improvement, market development and capabilities enhancement. Both the private sector and communities will partner with the Government to enhance the overall sector’s competitiveness so as to foster employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and improved living standards for the Ethiopians”, said Francois Nankobogo, the Bank’s Task Team Leader for the project.

The objective of the Sustainable Tourism Development Project for Ethiopia is to enhance the quality and variety of tourism products and services in targeted destinations so as to increase the volume of tourism, foreign exchange earnings, and jobs.

The project has four components. The first component, related to destination development, will address issues pertaining to:

(i) the rehabilitation and enhancement of basic infrastructure in key historic sites, namely Lalibela, Axum and Addis Ababa;

(ii) visitor services enhancement in selected destinations; and

(iii) tourism product development.

The second component, which deals with market development, will support: (a) positioning and marketing; and (b) a demand-driven linkages program utilizing a matching grant scheme for private sector competitiveness and fostering community involvement. The third component focuses on institutional development and capacity building through enhanced public-private partnerships, skills and sector management capabilities. Finally, the fourth component, dealing with implementation support and results monitoring, will support fiduciary and safeguards compliance activities, the set up of results-tracking system as well as project performance periodic reviews.

Currently, Ethiopia’s main tourist destination is the northern historic route which includes the sites of Lalibela and Axum. Addis Ababa, the principal gateway to the rest of the country, is in its own right a major destination and a leading conference venue in sub-Saharan Africa. Several emerging destinations in southern, western and eastern Ethiopia offer a wide range of historic, cultural and natural attractions. The total number of international tourist arrivals in Ethiopia, although growing (from 148,000 in 2001 to around 303,000 in 2007), is by no means commensurate with the potential of the country's attractions. The proposed project will help reduce some of the constraints so as to improve the living standards of the population.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism over a period of five years.

World Bank Approves US$535 Million Package for Ghana

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:52:31 GMT

Contacts:

Kafu Kofi Tsikata

+ (233) 284 312 540

ktsikata@worldbank.org

Washington DC--June 30, 2009. The Board of Directors of the World Bank today approved a total of US$535 million to support three credit facilities aimed at helping improve economic governance and stabilizing Ghana’s economy. They are:

Economic Governance and Poverty Reduction Credit (EGPRC) US$300 million

Transport Sector Project US$225 million

Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (NREG) US$ 10 million

These first set of credits are part of US$1.2 billion the Bank plans to support the government of Ghana with over the next three years.

The government is currently faced with a difficult macro-economic situation, the consequence of combination of domestic and external shocks (fuel and food crisis, droughts and floods in the North, financial crisis and global slowdown) which revealed and exacerbated a number of structural challenges in the public sector in general, and in the energy sector in particularly, and which, if left un-tackled, would undermine Ghana's growth and development prospects.

The Government has indicated its willingness to undertake necessary reforms. Recognizing the severity of the situation and the related financing gaps, the Government requested assistance from the World Bank in April 2009.

In the words of Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Hon Kwabena Duffuor, noted: “These resources could not have come at a better time. We have been working hard to minimize the impact of the global financial crunch on our people and these facilities will go a long way in supplementing our internal revenue generation and poverty reduction efforts. It is our duty as a government to bring the macroeconomic situation back on track, and we are committed to implementing appropriate measures in this regard.”

Economic Governance and Poverty Reduction Credit (EGPRC) – ($300m)

This credit is a budget support operation which aims to assist Ghana’s efforts to bring the fiscal situation back on a sound and sustainable track while protecting the development objectives set forth in Ghana’s Second Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) for the period 2006-2009.

The credit will be disbursed in two tranches. The first tranche of US$150 million will be effected immediately the financing agreement is signed by the government and the World Bank in early July 2009. The second will take place in the third quarter of 2009, immediately after the Government has completed the actions it has committed to take.

These actions include:

a. Relating to the Budget: establishing a single treasury account, improving compliance with the public procurement law, correcting any budget deviations (fiscal deficit, pro-poor expenditures) that may have arisen at mid-year through new fiscal measures, publishing fiscal accounts with less than one quarter lag, and submitting to Parliament the Freedom of Information Bill.

b. Structural measures: reconstituting the Boards of energy related regulatory utilities and authorities, adopting an electricity sector financial recovery plan, adopting draft legislation on the Ghana Petroleum Regulatory Authority and Oil and Gas Fiscal Regime, designating a leader in Government for the Public Sector Reforms agenda, and eliminating ghost workers in health and education services.

c. Protecting the Poor: extending the number of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) beneficiaries, and reviewing the effectiveness of pro-poor expenditures by revising their classification.

According to Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, “it is important to stress that these are not externally imposed conditionalities. These are actions that the government has decided to undertake in order to ensure fiscal prudence, transparency and accountability in the delivery of services. We all, citizens, Parliament and Development Partners alike, need to be vigilant and play our parts in promoting value for money in the disbursement of hard earned resources.”

Transport Sector Project - ($225m)

The objective of this project is to improve mobility of goods and passengers through reduction in travel time, vehicle operating cost, and implementation of safety strategy. This objective will be achieved through strengthening the capacity of transport institutions in planning, regulation, operations and maintenance.

The Government has developed a Transport Sector Development Programme as the successor program to the Road Sector Development Programme, setting out an integrated program of development activities for Ghana’s Transport Sector for the period 2008-2012. This project supports implementation of the Program.

Project components include:

· Improvement of Trunk Roads ($64.0m): This will be implemented by the Ghana Highway Authority and consist of rehabilitation of a major trunk road from Ayamfuri-Asawinso (52 km) to establish a South-North transport corridor in the West of Ghana.

· Improvement of Urban Roads ($78m): This component will be implemented by the Department of Urban Roads and consists of rehabilitation of the Burma Camp and Giffard roads, and the financing of urban transport infrastructure such as depots, terminals, and access facilities to the planned Bus Rapid Transit system in Accra.

· Improvement of Feeders Roads ($50.5m): This component will help in improving rural access through efficient and sustainable feeder roads reconstruction, rehabilitation, and maintenance.

“For Ghana to continue to play its role as the gateway to West Africa, the development of transport infrastructure remains at the centre. A better transport system will improve access to markets and will encourage farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their produce. Capacity building to enhance the performance of key institutions in the roads, aviation, maritime and railway subsectors will be emphasized,” says Ishac Diwan.

Natural Resources and Environmental Governance Credit - ($10m)

This is the second in the series of 3 Development Policy Operations (DPOs) for the period 2008-2010. It is a sector budget support operation targeting the natural resources and the environmental sectors. The first operation was prepared and executed in 2008. The objectives of the three series of operations are to (a) ensure predictable and sustainable financing for the forest and wildlife sectors and effective forest law enforcement; (b) improve mining sector revenue collection, management, and transparency; (c) address social issues in forest and mining communities; and (d) mainstream environment into economic growth through Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and development of a Climate Change Strategy. This facility will be disbursed in a single tranche as soon as the credit agreement is ratified by Parliament and a legal opinion is provided by the Attorney General’s Department.

For more information, please visit:

www.worldbank.org/Ghana

World Bank approves US$24.2 million for Emergency Infrastructure and Agriculture and Infrastructure in Liberia

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:47:16 GMT

Contact:

Roosevelt Ganteh Tule

+ (231) 6606948

rtule@worldbank.org

Washington DC-June 30, 2009. The Board of Directors of the World Bank today approved a total of US$24.2 million to provide additional grants to Liberia for the Emergency Infrastructure Project (EIP), and Agriculture and Infrastructure Development Project.

The additional grants will help finance the costs associated with over-runs and the scaling up of activities to enhance development impact.

1. Emergency Infrastructure Project (EIP) US$8.2million

2. Agriculture and Infrastructure Development Project (AIDP) US$16.0 million

The main additions to the EIP are: (i) cover cost overruns for five project activities; (ii) modify at zero cost the technical intervention of specified road works on the Freeport of Monrovia to Cotton Tree road corridor; (iii) introduce a new project activity in the port of Monrovia; and (iv) drop three specific project activities from the project design.

The major additions to the AIDP on the other hand are to: i) cover cost over-runs for a major consultancy assignment and for the construction of a critical bridge in Monrovia; (ii) for scaling up road works on 83 km corridors from Freeport of Monrovia to Cotton Tree; and (iii) for dropping three activities from the project.

The World Bank project will also support capacity-strengthening of Liberia’s Ministry of Public Works, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, and the Monrovia City Corporation through the provision of consultants’ services.

Both the EIP and AIDP modified and scaled up project activities under the proposed additional financing are aimed to further solidify benefits of the original projects.

The Ministry of Public Works is implementing the projects on behalf of the Government of Liberia. The newly appointed Public Work Minister, Hon. Samuel Kofi Woods has expressed the Government’s gratitude for the tremendous support of the World Bank; and has promised to make this year one of “Implementation and Action.”

The AIDP and the EIP, which are consistent with pillar four of the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy: Rebuilding Infrastructure and Providing Basic Services; broadly have three expected development outcomes:

Conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction;
Infrastructure services for private sector development; and
Rural services and infrastructure

After years of post civil war reconstruction, Liberia needs significant technical and financial assistance. The projects, therefore, provide a critical support to the country. The projects will specifically provide additional funding to transportation, including roads, bridges, and Monrovia Freeport.

For more information, please visit

www.worldbank.org/liberia

Liberia: Emergency Infrastructure Project and Agriculture Infrastructure Development Project

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:11:48 GMT

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

Liberia: Emergency Infrastructure Project and

Agriculture Infrastructure Development Project

IDA Grant: US$24.20 million equivalent

Project ID: P117019

Project Description: The additional grants for the Emergency Infrastructure Project and

Agriculture Infrastructure Development project in Liberia will help finance the costs associated with scaling up activity to enhance the development impact and the introduction of one new modified project activity. After a civil war and following establishment of democratically elected Government of Liberia (GOL) in early 2006, the International Development Association has, with a series of infrastructure projects', contributed to GOL effort in re-establishing infrastructure of the country. While these projects are stand-alone operations of relatively modest size, implementation of the projects has had to take account of needed re-prioritization, scaling up of some interventions, critical infrastructure that during this time has collapsed, significant cost escalation and entry by other donors to Liberia.

Media Contact

Roosevelt Ganteh Tule

+ (231) 6606948

rtule@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/LIBERIAEXTN/0,,menuPK:356200~pagePK:141159~piPK:141110~theSitePK:356194,00.html

Ghana: Transport Sector Project

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:05:19 GMT

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

Ghana: Transport Sector Project

IDA Credit: US$225 million equivalent

Terms: Maturity = 35 years; Grace period = 10 years

Project ID: P102000

Project Description: The objective of the Transport Sector Project in Ghana is to improve the mobility of goods and passengers by reducing travel time and vehicle operating cost, and to improve road safety standards. This objective will be achieved through strengthening the capacity of transport institutions in planning, regulation, operations and maintenance, and infrastructure investment.

Media Contact

Kafu Kofi Tsikata

+ (233) 284 312 540

ktsikata@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=P102000

Ghana: Second Natural Resources and Environmental Governance Development Policy Operation

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:59:29 GMT

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

Ghana: Second Natural Resources and Environmental

Governance Development Policy Operation

IDA Credit: US$10 million equivalent

Terms: Maturity = 35 years; Grace period = 10 years

Project ID: P113172

Project Description: The objectives of the Second Natural Resources and Environmental Governance Development Policy Operation project in Ghana are to ensure predictable and sustainable financing for the forest and wildlife sectors and effective forest law enforcement, address social issues in forest and mining communities, and improve mining management and transparency.

Media Contact

Kafu Kofi Tsikata

+ (233) 284 312 540

ktsikata@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&theSitePK=523679&entityID=000104615_20090107151004&searchMenuPK=64187283&theSitePK=523679

Ethiopia: Sustainable Tourism Development Project

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:57:54 GMT

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

Ethiopia: Sustainable Tourism Development Project

IDA Credit: US$35 million equivalent

Terms: Maturity = 40 years; Grace period = 10 years

Project ID: P098132

Project Description: The objective of the Sustainable Tourism Development Project in Ethiopia is to contribute to the enhancement of the quality and variety of tourism products and services in targeted destinations so as to increase tourist visitation, foreign exchange earnings, and jobs. The implementation of the project will cause an increase of annual international visitors, which will translate into higher foreign exchange earnings, and increase the number of direct and indirect tourism-related jobs.

Media Contact in Addis Ababa

Gelila Woodeneh
(011) 6627700
gwoodeneh@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=P098132

Democratic Republic of Congo: Southern African Power Market Project

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:54:41 GMT

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

Democratic Republic of Congo: Southern African Power Market Project

IDA Grant: US$180.62 million equivalent

Project ID: P105654

Project Description: The objective of the Southern African Power Market Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo is to develop an efficient regional power market in the Southern African Development Community to create conditions for accelerated investments in the power sector, increase competition and foster regional economic integration.

Media Contact

Louise Engulu Mekonda

(243) 98-30-2914

lengulu@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit:

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/CONGODEMOCRATICEXTN/0,,menuPK:349472~pagePK:141159~piPK:141110~theSitePK:349466,00.html

High speed internet is key to economic growth and job creation in developing countries, says new World Bank Group report

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:01:10 GMT

News Release No. 2009/XXX/SDN/IFC

In Washington, D.C.:
Alexandra Klopfer
Phone: (202) 473-4645
E-mail: aklopfer@worldbank.org

Karolina Ordon

Phone: (202) 458-5971

E-mail: kordon@worldbank.org

Washington, D.C., June 30, 2009—A new report from the World Bank Group finds that access to affordable, high quality internet and mobile phone services enables development across all levels of the economy and society.

Information and Communications for Development 2009: Extending Reach and Increasing Impact takes an in-depth look at how ICT impacts economic growth in developing countries. The report finds that for every 10 percentage-point increase in high speed Internet connections there is an increase in economic growth of 1.3 percentage points. It 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.

“Internet users in developing countries increased tenfold from 2000 to 2007, and there are now over four billion mobile phone subscribers in developing countries,” says Mohsen Khalil, World Bank Group Director for Global Information and Communication Technologies. “These technologies offer tremendous opportunities. Governments can work with the private sector to accelerate rollout of broadband networks, and to extend access to low-income consumers.”

Broadband also provides the basis for local IT services industries, which create youth employment, increase productivity and exports, and promote social inclusion. Developing countries should seize this largely untapped opportunity, with less than 15 percent of the potential global market for IT services industries currently being exploited. In 2007, this market represented nearly US$500 billion.

“Governments should proactively encourage the development of local IT services industries through policies and incentives directed at entrepreneurs and the private sector, and through investments in skills and infrastructure,” says World Bank Economist Christine Zhen-Wei Qiang, editor of the report.

The report also contains new empirical evidence from Brazil, Ghana, India and other countries demonstrating that modern, technology-enabled governments can become more efficient, transparent and responsive. A survey of over 30 countries shows that successful e-government requires organizational and behavioral changes that must be driven by high-level political commitment and effective coordination.

“Access to broadband completes the information foundation for a modern economy and should be a priority in national development plans.” says Katherine Sierra, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. “Governments can play a key role in expanding broadband access by policies and incentives that encourage competition and private investment.”

The report builds on experience drawn from the Bank’s own significant involvement in the sector. The Bank Group is the largest international donor in the field of ICT for development and supports ICT activities projects in over 100 countries with a portfolio amounting to more than US$3 billion.

About the World Bank Group

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Each institution plays a distinct role in the mission to fight poverty and improve living standards for people in the developing world. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org.

About IC4D

IC4D is a regular publication of the World Bank Group addressing the critical role that information and communication technologies (ICT) play in economic development. It features at-a-glance tables for 150 economies of the latest available data on ICT sector performance. The 2009 issue introduces performance measures for ICT access, affordability and applications in government and business. For more information visit www.worldbank.org/ic4d

Zambia - Second Phase of the Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Global Environment Facility Funds Benin Energy Efficiency Project

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:04:53 GMT

Contacts:

Washington:

Rachel McColgan-Arnold

(202) 458 5299

rmccolgan@worldbank.org

In Benin:

Sylvie Nenonene

(229) 21 30 58 57

snenonene@worldbank.org

Washington, D.C., June 26, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Directors approved a program which will help reduce greenhouse gases and promote clean energy use in Benin.

The program, supported by a US $1.82 million Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant (about CFAF 900 million), seeks to improve energy services in urban areas for customers that already have access to electricity in Benin in the following ways:

· disseminating 350,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in the market in order to reduce peak demand and energy consumption;

· introducing a regulatory and labeling system for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and individual air conditioning units, so consumers have access to efficient and high-quality products

· promoting energy efficiency through capacity building, information, and awareness building.

The new approved project is part of the Increased Access to Modern Energy Project (DAEM) totaling US$70 that will be submitted shortly to the Board of Directors, which aims to update Benin’s electricity infrastructure.

“Under this innovative program, GEF funds will play a catalytic role in expanding modern energy services in Benin," said Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility. "Consumers will now have a strong incentive to make smart and efficient choices that will save money while generating important global environmental benefits such as lowering greenhouse gases and conserving energy,"

The GEF unites 178 countries in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest funder of projects to improve the global environment. The GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. Since 1991, GEF has achieved a strong track record with developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $8.3 billion in grants and leveraging $33.7 billion in co-financing for over 2,200 projects in over 165 countries.

The World Bank is one of GEF’s implementing agencies, and supports countries in preparing GEF co-financed projects and supervises their implementation. It plays the primary role in the development and management of investment projects. The World Bank draws upon its operational experience in eligible countries to promote investment opportunities and mobilize private sector, bilateral, multilateral, government, and non-government sector resources for interventions that are consistent with GEF objectives and national sustainable strategies.

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For more information on World Bank activities in Benin, visit:

http://www.worldbank.org/benin

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

http://www.worldbank.org/africa

World Bank Board Approves US$ 151 Million to Extend Affordable Communications Services to Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:42:35 GMT

Contacts:
In Washington:

Alexandra Klopfer

(1 202) 473 4645

aklopfer@worldbank.org

In Maputo:

Rafael Saute

(258-21) 21482324

rsaute@worldbank.org

In Lilongwe:

Zeria Banda
(265-1) 770611

zbanda@worldbank.org

In Dar es Salaam:

Nicodemus Marcus

(255-22) 2163246

nmarcus@worldbank.org

Washington, DC, June 25, 2009 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit[1] of US$151 million to extend access to affordable communications services to Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. This is the third phase of the Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP) – a US$424 million regional program that will increase the availability of reliable communications services for citizens, businesses and governments in Eastern and Southern Africa. Under RCIP 3, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania will receive US$20 million, US$31 million and US$100 million respectively.

Despite considerable developments in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in Africa over the last ten years, the region still has the world’s lowest telephone and Internet user penetration and highest costs.

“Economic development in Eastern and Southern Africa is held back by prohibitive ICT costs and limited communications infrastructure,” said Rick Scobey, World Bank Acting Director for Regional Integration in Sub-Saharan Africa. “RCIP is helping the region to leverage the exciting developments in the sector and overcome the challenges through a combination of sound policy and regulatory frameworks, competitive market structures, and catalytic investments into public-private partnerships to accelerate roll-out of infrastructure networks.”

“Ultimately, RCIP will make affordable Internet and voice communications services more widely available, and in turn create new opportunities for employment, regional trade, social participation, and government efficiency. The recently launched submarine cable projects, together with such national backbone networks are already driving down substantially the costs of broadband connectivity in Africa,” said Mohsen Khalil, World Bank Group Director for Global Information and Communication Technologies.

"This project is a very exciting development for Malawi. The country has had a lot of success in the development of basic voice services, but our international call costs and broadband internet are currently very expensive compared to the rest of the world, and beyond the reach of most people. This project will link Malawi to the world by fiber-optic cable, and reduce the cost of international connectivity - which will in turn reduce the cost of international telephony and broadband internet service," said Timothy Gilbo, World Bank Country Manager for Malawi.

In Mozambique, the project leverages the sector liberalization reforms implemented by the government and will further contribute to the competitiveness of the sector to improve affordability, access, and use of networks. It will support the licensing of new operators, the establishment of rural access points throughout the country, and purchase capacity for universities and government institutions. The project will also set the basis for the development of eGovernment applications that will enable the provision of public services to citizens through electronic platforms.

“We are already seeing exciting developments in Malawi, which is working to become connected to the fiber optic cable which runs along the East African coast, and in Mozambique, where we have seen an explosion in mobile phone availability across the country,” said Peter Nicholas, World Bank Acting Country Director for Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. “RCIP will leverage these developments and help Malawi, Mozambique and other countries in the region to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of telecommunications infrastructure and services.”

In Tanzania, the project will strengthen the policy and regulatory environment and promote sector reform in order to maximize the benefits of access to international bandwidth. Some components will specifically target priority groups such as the private sector by enabling a national business portal for all business registration information and a telemedicine system for Muhimbili National Hospital. In addition, the project will scale up the national vital registration system, enhance accessibility of land records through websites and mobile phone text messages, and develop an eProcurement pilot for the Medical Stores Department.

“In Tanzania, RCIP will support the implementation of the Government's National ICT Infrastructure Development Program, which aspires to provide ICT connectivity to Tanzanians at all levels,” said John Murray McIntire, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi. “In particular, RCIP Tanzania will support last mile initiatives for rural access, the Government Communications Network (GovNet), eGovernment, and capacity building.”

RCIP 3 is a further milestone in the World Bank Group’s commitment to the goals of the Connect Africa Summit, which was held in November 2007 in Rwanda. As a result of the Summit, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank have partnered to help Africa achieve the Summit goals by mobilizing funds to invest in infrastructure and applications, advising on the policy and regulation of the ICT sector across the continent, and helping with the design and implementation of national e-strategies.

The first phase of RCIP was approved by the Board of the World Bank in March 2007, providing assistance to Burundi, Kenya, and Madagascar, with a combined IDA volume of around US$164.5 million. The second phase, a US$24 million IDA grant for Rwanda, was approved in September 2008. RCIP complements regional undersea cable initiatives such as the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) developed by telecommunications operators with support from IFC and other development partners.

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

For more information on RCIP and related operations visit www.worldbank.org/rcip

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

Improving Access to Modern Energy in Benin

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:31:07 GMT

Contacts:

In Washington: Rachel McColgan-Arnold (202) 458 5299

rmccolgan@worldbank.org

In Benin: Sylvie Nenonene (229) 21 30 58 57

snenonene@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 24, 2009. The World Bank’s Board of Directors yesterday approved an Increased Access to Modern Energy Project (DAEM) for the Republic of Benin. Supported by an IDA grant of US$ 70 million (about CFAF 35 billion) and a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant totaling US$ 1.82 million (approximately CFAF 900 million), this project primarily seeks to increase the reliability and effectiveness of access to modern energy services in Benin. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Water, the DAEM project will be executed by the following bodies: (i) the Electric Community of Benin (CEB); (ii) the Benin Electric Energy Company (SBEE); (iii) the General Energy Directorate; and (iv) the Benin Agency for Rural Electrification and Energy Management (ABERME).

The new project has three main components, which are aimed at upgrading the functionality of the existing electricity system and increasing access by urban and rural inhabitants to modern energy services.

- Upgrading of the electric grid (US$ 98.32 million, including US$ 43.32 million in IDA funds). This component will finance the following:

(i) The building of a 161 kV interconnection between Onigbolo and Parakou (IDA, EIB, and CEB funding) ;

(ii) The building of a 161 kV interconnection between Sakété and Porto-Novo (KfW and CEB funding) ;

(iii) The rehabilitation and upgrading of the SBEE network (IDA financing), to reinforce the SBEE distribution network in the major cities of Benin (Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Ouidah, Lokossa, and Natitingou); and

(iv) Increasing the effectiveness of energy services (GEF financing) in urban areas for consumers who already have access to electricity, by introducing energy efficiency standards for large household appliances;

- Electrification and modern energy services (US$ 65.50 million, including US$ 12 million from IDA). This second component of the project aims to expand the provision of modern energy services in rural areas. The specific actions to be taken under this component are as follows:

(i) Operationalizing the Rural Electrification Fund under the auspices of ABERME (financed by the Government of Benin and IDA), as a basis for developing a sustainable institutional framework to support electrification through rural concessions and local initiatives; and

(ii) Modernizing biomass energy services (financed by IDA and FFEM). This sub-component will fund: (a) the promotion of sustainable community systems for fuel wood supply; (b) increasing the effectiveness of biomass and other renewable energy sources and fuel substitution; and (c) support for development of the local economy in the Ouémé-Moyen region, which covers at least 80% of the demand for charcoal in the major cities of Benin;

- Sustainable energy services (US$ 6.68 million financed by IDA). The objective of this last component of the project is to provide more sustainable services to consumers by focusing on: (i) improving the financial autonomy and performance of key sector institutions; and (ii) enhancing the capacity to better plan and regulate Benin’s energy sector. This component covers the following points: updating the Energy Sector Master Plan; strengthening the regulatory capacity of the General Energy Directorate; developing the SBEE business plan; elaborating the CEB business plan; and enhancing environmental and social monitoring of the energy sector in Benin.

The Increased Access to Modern Energy Project (DAEM) is funded by the Government of Benin and several donors: Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the European Development Bank (EDB), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), and the French Global Environment Fund (FFEM). The overall budget of the project is US$ 178.5 million (slightly more than CFAF 89 billion).

Following the approval of the DAEM project by the Board of Directors, the World Bank’s Resident Representative in Benin, Joseph Baah-Dwomoh, said that “the project just approved is part of our Country Assistance Strategy for Benin and will support the implementation of the national Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS). In our view, the main challenge is to improve the energy supply network, the effectiveness and financial viability of the energy sector, and access to modern services for a greater proportion of the population. We appreciate the efforts of the Government of Benin, which is also providing substantial financial support to this project and has taken decisive steps to improve governance in the sector and restore its financial viability. The Government’s approach is a pragmatic one, and we trust that it will solve the existing problems by focusing on managing the sector more transparently. The World Bank stands ready to provide assistance in this effort.”

For more information on the World Bank’s activities in Benin, please visit:

http://www.worldbank.org/benin

For more information on the World Bank’s activities in sub-Saharan Africa, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/africa

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Tanzania - Accelerated Food Security Project : environmental assessment

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The objectives of the Accelerated Food Security Project for Tanzania are: (i) to enable farmers to have better access to and use of agricultural knowledge, technologies, marketing systems and infrastructure, all of which contribute to higher productivity and farm income, and (ii) to increase private sector investment in agriculture based on an improved regulatory and policy environment. The project negative impacts and there mitigation measures include: stem cleaning at least once a year, apply cooking oil or fat around borer holes to attract predatory ants, paint the stem and branches with a paste out substance like lime, apply recommended insecticides if necessary, conservation of indigenous natural enemies, early harvesting of tubers; as soon as weevil damage is observed on tuber tips, use of clean planting materials, use of resistant varieties where available, avoid disease plants as a source of planting materials, sorting and cleaning of the produce before storage, and spray with recommended fungicide.

Republic of Congo: World Bank Approves Additional financing of US$5 Million Grant to Build Capacity for the

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:25:52 GMT

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

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