“With this, we will be able to help immunize 200 million more children, extend health services to over 30 million people and give access to improved water sources to 80 million more people,” a statement quotes World Bank Group President Robert B Zoellick as saying.[break]
The aid package will also help build 80,000 kilometers of roads and train and recruit over two million teachers.
According to the statement, funding for the sixteenth IDA replenishment (IDA16) is up 18 percent on the previous round three years ago.
And over the next three years, it will help 79 of the world´s poorest countries boost growth and overcome poverty by financing infrastructure, improving health services, educating children, and combating climate change.
“Special focus will be given to addressing gender issues and helping fragile and conflict affected countries in their quest for peace and development,” reads the statement. As in the past, Sub-Saharan Africa will remain a major focus of IDA support.
Donors and partners also endorsed special crisis funding from within IDA to help low income countries deal with the impact of natural disasters and severe economic shocks. “The new Crisis Response Window will include a special allocation for Haiti as it continues to recover from the 2010 earthquake,” states the bank´s statement.
The agreement marks the last opportunity for donors and poor countries to effectively use IDA funds to make more progress on reaching the MDGs, which include the internationally agreed target to halve poverty by 2015.
“This strong response by donors signals that development funding should not be viewed just as aid, but rather as an investment in the future, as we need developing country growth to ignite global growth,” said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the bank´s managing director.
IDA is one of the world´s largest aid provider. It provides support for health and education, infrastructure and agriculture, and economic and institutional development to 79 of the least developed countries -- 39 of them in Africa.
Over the past 10 years, it has helped to save 13 million lives, immunize over 310 million children, improve access to water for more than 100 million people, and help poor people gain access to markets and services.
Norway to provide aid worth Rs 14.5 m
KATHMANDU: Norwegian Government on Thursday announced a financial support worth Rs 14.5 millionto Transparency International Nepal (TIN). According to a press statement issued by Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu, an agreement was signed on Thursday in Kathmandu between the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Transparency International Nepal to support TIN´s programs to promote integrity and accountability in Nepal.
Minister Counsellor at Norwegian Embassy Camilla Rossak and TIN´s President Bishnu Bahadur KC signed the agreement on behalf of their organizations.
The financial support will be provided in phases starting 2011. “During the period, TIN will evaluate national integrity system, review government´s anti corruption strategy and plans, suggest anti-corruption provisions in the new constitution, lobby for ratification of UNCAC, map anti-corruption agencies, review foreign aid policy, prepare and lobby for implementation of code of conducts, organize anti corruption day events, hold national and international seminars, study fund management at local level and expand its network,” said the statement.
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