Contacts: In Buenos Aires: Mara Laudonia (5411) 4316-9700 mlaudonia@worldbank.org In Washington: Gabriela Aguilar (202) 473-4306 gaguilar@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, May 30, 2007 - The World Bank yesterday approved a US$20 million loan for Argentina to support the institutional strengthening of public sector management in key areas under the mandate of the Chief of Cabinet Office. The State Modernization II Project “will act as a catalyst for the government’s institutional efforts since an improved public sector management contributes to sustained growth,” said Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Country Director for Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. In the partnership between Argentina and the World Bank, "the Bank could act as a source of strategic advice for cutting-edge knowledge and best practices, contributing to the efficiency and transparency of public sector management under a strategy of engagement ,” he added. The US$20 million loan will continue Bank support for Argentina’s State Modernization program, building on the progress achieved under a first World Bank loan currently in its final year of implementation. The ongoing project has contributed to important progress in modernizing key elements of public sector management in the country. The new project aims to strengthen the capacity of the Chief of Cabinet Office to carry out its mandate in core public sector management areas; enhancing organizational strengthening; monitoring and evaluation; and knowledge-building. In particular, it will strengthen the capacity of the Chief of Cabinet Office to: · Improve its internal organization; design a state modernization strategy; promote change management; design a system to monitor progress towards government goals; and support the newly established Investment Promotion Agency. · Promote improvements in selected public sector management tools such as e-government, procurement, human resource management, quality management and access to information. “Continued Bank support to state modernization in Argentina provides an opportunity to strengthen the capacity of the Chief of Cabinet Office to develop the strategy, tools and capacities for key public sector management areas under its mandate, thus helping to enhance the quality of public service-delivery to citizens, ” said Kathrin A. Plangemann, World Bank task manager for the project. The objectives of this operation are in line with the World Bank’s US$3.3 billion Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Argentina, discussed by the Board of Executive Directors in June 2006. This Strategy is focused on three pillars: sustained growth with equity, social inclusion and improved governance. The State Modernization II project will contribute particularly to the improved governance pillar. The US$20 million single-currency, fixed spread loan has a repayment period of 15 years, including five years of grace. *** For more information on the State Modernization II project, please visit: http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=316024&menuPK=316058&Projectid=P101170 For more information on the World Bank’s work in Argentina, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/aror http://www.bancomundialinfo.org |
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