Contacts In Washington: Rachel McColgan-Arnold (202) 458 5299 rmccolgan@worldbank.org In Uganda: Steven Shalita +256-414-302 236 sshalita@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, September 4, 2008 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a $15 million International Development Association (IDA) credit* to provide additional financing to the Second Environment Management Capacity Building Project (EMCBP II) in Uganda. The project is implemented by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The additional credit will, over the next three years, finance the expansion of municipal solid waste (MSW) composting in up to 17 Ugandan towns and expansion of tree planting on denuded national forest lands. It will also support NEMA’s enforcement capacity of priority environmental issues, and assist in promulgation of important environmental laws and regulations related to the petroleum and gas sector in Uganda. “The project is important because it contributes to sustainable management of environmental and natural resources at the national, district, and community levels. The additional financing will enhance institutional development and further strengthen Uganda’s environment sector. It will also address a high priority economic development issue associated with oil and gas development, ensuring that this development is not hindered by inadequate institutional and regulatory capacity relating to environmental standards,” explained Nathalie Johnson, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project. Supporting the Government of Uganda’s goal of attaining environmentally sustainable development, the EMCBP II was part of a long-term effort to build the capacity of key players at all levels--in both the private and public sector--to work together to promote sound environment and natural resources management. Initially funded by a US$22 million credit, approved in early 2001, the project was expected to create and establish an efficient mechanism for sustainable environmental and natural resources management at the national, district and community levels. Following an extension, the second phase of the project will be completed in November 2008 to allow completion of selected district composting activities. Among the project’s key achievements has been the consolidation of NEMA as the national coordinating institution for environment management in Uganda. NEMA has been able to establish effective management systems, and has supported the creation of key environmental laws, regulations and guidelines. NEMA has also developed and implemented several strategies for Environmental Education, Conservation of Biological Diversity, and has ensured integration of environmental issues into Uganda’s Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). # # # *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. |
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