Washington Contact: Claire Hervey (202) 473-8294
Lilongwe Contact: John Chikopa (265) 780611
WASHINGTON, October 15, 1998 — The World Bank has approved US$5 million in funding to promote family planning in Malawi. A pilot project will support contraceptive education and improved family planning services, especially in rural and other under-served areas of the country.
Rapid and unsustainable population growth is increasing pressure on Malawi's natural resources and social services, which is in turn compromising efforts to reduce poverty. Family planning services are difficult to obtain, and as a result Malawi's fertility rates are among the highest in Africa, averaging 6.7 children per woman. Obstacles to obtaining services and information include low numbers of health clinics and the long travel distances to get to them; staff shortages and irregular hours at clinics; irregular supply of contraceptives and a limited number of services available; and cultural/religious barriers, including negative attitudes toward family planning.
The project will employ Malawians in communities in three districts, Chitipa (northern region), Ntchisi (central region), and Chiradzulu (southern region). Local representatives of the project will promote family planning in the community; counsel individuals, including youth; supply contraceptive pills, condoms, and spermicides; and refer patients to clinics for a range of clinical family planning methods, including injectable contraceptives, intra-uterine devices, Norplant, and sterilization.
This pilot project is being funded by a Learning and Innovation Loan (LIL), one of the World Bank's new, more flexible lending instruments. The small-scale, flexible nature of the LIL allows for modification in some elements of the project design as new issues arise and is a cost-effective way to test the feasibility of a project. If successful, the project will be expanded nationwide.
The US$5.5 million Malawi Population and Family Planning Project will be financed by a US$5 million equivalent credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's lending arm for the poorest countries. The balance of the project will be financed by the Government of the Republic of Malawi in the equivalent of US$0.5 million. The IDA credit is on standard terms of 40 years maturity (including 10 years grace), and 0.75 percent service charge. |
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