Georgia: World Bank Approves Credit or Second Social Investment Fund

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2003--The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$15 million credit for the Second Georgia Social Investment Fund.

The Second Georgia Social Investment Fund Project (GSIF II) will raise living standards among low-income communities in Georgia. It will achieve this objective by promoting active citizen participation in the implementation of sustainable community-level "micro-projects" and by building capacity for community action and self-help in addressing local socio-economic problems; and by introducing local governments to the participatory development process.

The project has three components:

* Support to Communities, Local Self-Governments, and Local Non-Governmental Organizations. This component includes provision of training and technical assistance to communities in community development planning, and to local NGOs, among others.

* Micro-projects in Rehabilitation of Small-Scale Infrastructure. This component includes the financing of micro-projects to improve social and economic infrastructure .

* Institutional Support for the GSIF. This component entails strengthening of the GSIF’s operational capacity through provision of training and technical assistance to the GSIF staff; provision of equipment, materials, and vehicles; and carrying out of technical, managerial and financial audits.

For more information on the Bank’s work in Georgia, visit http://www.worldbank.org.ge