Contacts In Washington: Aby Toure (202) 473 8302 akonate@worldbank.org In Accra: Kofi Tsikata (233-21) 229681 ktsikata@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, June 26, 2008 – The Board of Directors of the World Bank today approved a US$22 million additional credit facility to the Government of Ghana under the Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP). The objective of the Project is to strengthen the capacity of rural communities to enhance their quality of life by improving their productive assets, rural infrastructure and access to key support services from private and public sources. The Project also provides critical resources to respond to priority works in the three northern regions most affected by last year’s floods. The Project will specifically support the following: · Public works for: (i) agricultural development; (ii) human and social development; and (iii) natural resource management. A wide range of eligible public works will be supported throughout the country, which, to date have concentrated on primary schools, wells, feeder roads, health and nutrition facilities, toilets, and markets. Of an estimated US$18.4 million for this component, US$6.5 million will go toward reconstruction efforts in the north of the country in response to last year’s floods, and US$11.9 million will be channeled through District Assemblies in support of decentralized service delivery. · Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building of communities, District Assemblies and national authorities. Community based organizations, local, regional and national Government institutions will be trained to plan, manage and oversee public investments to help ensure more cost-effective service delivery to rural communities as part of the Government’s overall decentralization efforts. Besides on-going training in local level planning, procurement, financial management and oversight of works activities, the Project will also support training in contracts management and rapid results methodologies for selected flood-affected communities and Area Councils. Particular focus of this capacity building will be on Area Councils and Districts either affected by the floods in the north, newly created, or where on-demand support is indicated, there may also be need for support to regional and national level institutions.
· Project management for expanded work in the north and to extend the Project until June 30, 2010. The Project will continue to support management structures and systems under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment that work thought zonal offices in support of all Regional Planning and Coordination Units under the Regional Ministers. This support will continue until the revised Project closing date of June 30, 2010.
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