The International Development Association (IDA) on December 21approved a credit of $24 million for a four-year social actionproject in Angola. The credit will finance sub-projects identified,prepared and implemented by local communities and will also financeresearch and monitoring of poverty and social issues. Sub-projectsfunded by the credit will focus on rehabilitation of infrastructurein low-income communities. For more information, call Eric Chinjeat (202) 473-4467, fax 473- 7917, e-mail: echinje@worldbank.org. The World Bank on December 21 approved a loan to Argentina of$115.5 million to decentralize and improve its secondary schoolsystem in seven provinces and the municipality of Buenos Aires.The project will have the same objectives as those of an earlierBank-supported project, carried out in seven other provinces,and will include institutional strengthening, educational qualityimprovement and rehabilitation and expansion of physical infrastructure.For more information, call Mario del Carril at (202) 473-6189,fax 522-3698, e-mail: Mcarril@worldbank.org. IDA on December 21 approved a credit of $11 million to Boliviafor a project aimed at reducing environmental damage caused bythe mining sector. The project will fund environmental data collectionand monitoring, assist policy development and implementation andhelp remediation activities that help facilitate private investmentin the sector. It will also support the implementation and refinementof a regulatory framework to assure that private mining and industrialactivities operate in a more environmentally friendly fashion.For more information, call Mario del Carril at (202) 473-6189,fax 522-3698, e-mail:Mcarril@worldbank.org. The World Bank on December 21 approved a loan of $3.07 millionand a credit of $3.07 million for a basic education reform projectin Dominica. The three-part project will reorganize and reinforceinstitutions; provide teacher training, formulate improved curriculaand testing, identify educational materials and fund textbookacquisition; and fund the expansion and rehabilitation of schoolfacilities. For more information, call Mario del Carril at (202)473- 6189, fax 522-3698, e-mail Mcarril@worldbank.org. The World Bank on December 21 approved a loan of $3.8 millionand a credit of $2.6 million to Grenada for a three-part basiceducation reform project to strengthen planning and management,improve quality and expand access to schools. Funds will be usedto reorganize, upgrade and reinforce institutions; upgrade basicteacher training and supervision and provide textbooks; and improvesecondary school facilities to increase enrollment in under-servedareas.For more information, call Mario del Carril at (202) 473-6189,fax 522-3698, e-mail: Mcarril@worldbank.org. Small and medium industries in Indonesia will be equipped withthe technology support needed to be competitive in today's marketsthanks to a loan of $47 million, approved by the World Bank December21 for an industrial technology development project. The loanwill help firms in the manufacturing sector devise a common approachto survive competition from increased international liberalizationin the APEC region; the global reduction of trade barriers; andthe emergence of a number of other low-wage competitor countries.For more information, call Rachel McColgan-Mohamed at (202) 458-0358,fax 522-3405, e-mail: rmccolganmohamed@worldbank.org. Following a mid-term review in March 1995, IDA on December 19agreed to the restructuring of a $33 million development creditagreement made with Senegal in 1988, canceling some componentsthat have no prospects of being completed; modifying other componentsof the industrial sector restructuring project; and adding environmentalguidelines and poverty alleviation assessments. For more information,call Eric Chinje at (202) 473- 4467, fax 473-7917, e-mail: echinje@worldbank.org. Traffic congestion in Thailand is to be eased and air pollutionreduced with a $150 million loan approved by the World Bank December21. The Fifth Highway Sector Project will fund improved infrastructurefor the Thai road system and pay for new environmental protectionmeasures. The project is an extension of an ongoing fourth projectand will also provide technical assistance, training and monitoringin the implementation of a vehicle inspection system under plansto reduce emissions and improve road safety. For more information,call Rachel McColgan- Mohamed at (202) 458-0358, fax 522-3405,e-mail:rmccolganmohamed@worldbank.org. The World Bank on December 19 agreed to a series of amendmentsto a $285 million loan agreement made with Turkey for the Senirkentemergency reconstruction program in 1992. The Bank will amendthe loan to finance urgent reconstruction to repair severe damagecaused by earthquakes, floods and mudslides in the project area.For more information, call Ricardo Halperin at (202) 473-8755,fax 477-1386, e-mail: rhalperin@worldbank.org. The World Bank on December 19 approved an amendment to a loanfor an agricultural credit and export promotion project in Zimbabwe,granting sub-loans to rural input suppliers and increasing fundsfor reallocations. The amendments would allow some increases inexpenditures and an extension of the project's closing date toDecember 31, 1996. For more information, call Eric Chinje at (202)473-4467, fax 473-7917, e-mail: echinje@worldbank.org. |
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