Projects & Programs

As of March 2007, the Regional Integration department's existing portfolio includes 19 projects, of which four are Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects, for a total IDA/GEF commitment $1,1 billion. The portfolio size more than doubled in two years. The portfolio average age is 2.6 years.

West Africa is by far the sub-region receiving the most support under the Bank’s Regional Integration initiative with commitments as of the end of March 2007 amounting to US$505.2 million (representing 46% of the total commitment in the Africa region) and US$140 million of IDA Guarantees.

With partners, including the private sector, leverage World Bank Group support for regional investments in infrastructure and health of approximately $750 million per year through FY08.

Besides its role in capacity building and institutional strengthening, the World Bank Group’s pipeline of regional integration projects has been growing rapidly and currently stands at more than $2 billion of projects able to be financed over the next three years. The pipeline includes operations in transport, energy, water, telecoms, financial sector, human development, and agriculture based on NEPAD Short Term Action Plan (pdf) priorities and the Africa Action Plan (AAP) pdf.

The AAP has led to the identification of the following flagship projects currently under preparation:

	Non-lending engagement with Regional Institutions focusing on harmonization, gap-filling TA, capacity development to create regional knowledge, drive policy debate and prepare regional projects.
	Regional investment financing under NEPAD STAP includes:
	-- Inga I & II rehabilitation --  West Africa Power Pool (Phase II) -- Southern Africa Power Pool (Phase II) -- West Africa Gas Pipeline (Phase II) -- West Africa Road Transport and Transit Program -- East Africa Trade and Transport Facilitation Project -- Central Africa (CEMAC) trade and transport facilitation project -- Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (pdf) -- Nile River Basin development --  Senegal River Basin Development (pdf)
	Investments in Agricultural Productivity include:
	-- Southern Africa Productivity Program -- West Africa Productivity Program -- Senegal River Basin Development
	Financial Sector Development
	-- Africa Trade Insurance Agency (pdf)

Additionally, the Bank is planning analytical work to (i) create regional knowledge and develop institutional capacity to drive regional policy debate and policy formulation, and (ii) provide analytical depth to the Bank’s engagement in priority regional investment projects. This translated in FY06 with the development of operational regional strategies within the respective Country Assistance Strategies (CASs) in the four sub-regions.  Additionally the Bank is in the process of completing a continent-wide Regional Assistance Strategy (RAS).   

For detailed project information, please refer to:

	Active Portfolio (xls)
	Projects and Programs in West Africa (xls)
	Projects to be approved in FY07