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In Washington: Aby Touré +1 202 473 8302
akonate@worldbank.org In Bujumbura: Marie-Claire Nzeyimana (257-22) 20 6200 mnzeyimana@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, June 19, 2008 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$15 million IDA additional grant to the Government of Burundi to support the Agricultural Rehabilitation and Sustainable Land Management project. The development objective of the Agricultural Rehabilitation and Sustainable Land Management project is to restore the productive capacity of rural areas, through investments in production and sustainable land management, and through capacity building for producer organizations, and local communities. Beneficiaries would also include war-distressed returnees and internally displaced persons. The project, which scales up the original project, consists of the following parts: · Support for production and sustainable land management investments which will finance demand-driven subprojects, and their effective planning, and implementation by producer organizations, and local communities. It will also provide emergency support for internally displaced persons seeking their reintegration in the agricultural sector. · Support for capacity building and institutional strengthening, will enhance access to information, and capacity of producer organizations, local communities, and local project's implementing agencies. · Support for project coordination and management which will finance project management activities, including monitoring and evaluation. “The proposed US$15 million additional grant would finance the costs associated with scaling–up activities of the project, which is well performing and disbursing ahead of schedule, in a context where new risks have arisen with the increase in food and energy prices”, said Ousmane Seck, the Task Team Leader of the project. This additional financing will support the allocation of an increased number of matching grants, including the contracting out of local services providers and in line with social safeguards and the initial design of the project additional support to indigenous people and returnees and internally displaced persons. Lessons learnt from the project execution so far suggested focusing on: (i) the production of quality seeds; development of irrigated rice alternatively with horticultural products, palm oil, etc; (ii) the extension of irrigation sub-projects in suitable wetlands for improving water and soil management, including watershed rehabilitation and capacity strengthening of water users associations; and (iii) the promotion of sustainable land management on pilot watershed subprojects, such as the introduction of indigenous species and protection of waterways. The project will be implemented in rural areas which are characterized by mountainous terrain and severe erosion. ### For more information on the World Bank’s activities in sub-Saharan Africa visit: http://www.worldbank.org/afr For more information on the World Bank’s activities in Burundi visit: http://www.worldbank.org/burundi |
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