WASHINGTON, July 5, 2018—The World Bank approved today $172 million of International Development Association (IDA)* financing to improve agricultural productivity and the resilience of drylands communities, foster inclusive growth and support social protection in Mali.
These projects, which have just been approved by the Board of Executive Directors, will help the country accelerate poverty reduction efforts by improving sources of income and reducing the vulnerability of some of the poorest families. They will contribute to the World Bank's twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. These projects will support the improvement of agricultural productivity and the resilience of targeted rural populations, especially women,” said Soukeyna Kane, World Bank Country Director for Mali.
The approved program of support comprises the following projects:
The Mali Second Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Growth Development Policy Operation, the second in a series of two, sustains the foundations for inclusive economic growth and enhances protection for the most vulnerable. With policy reforms with respect to land tenure, energy, agricultural subsidies, telecommunications, social protection and microfinance, this operation strengthens the foundation for poverty reduction in the country, increases security of tenure and improves competition in the telecommunications sector. It is financed through an IDA grant and credit of $60.0 million.
The Mali Drylands Development Project combines a set of interventions that could help reduce the impact of drought and climate change on an area covering roughly the northern part of the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro, and Segou, and the whole of the Mopti region by combining direct and productive cash transfers with the delivery of agricultural inputs, services and infrastructures while supporting community and national institutions. This will keep at least 20,000 households out of danger in areas that constitute some of Mali’s poorest zones. It is financed through an IDA grant and credit of $60.0 million.
The Mali Safety Nets Project (Jigisemejiri) received additional financing of $52.0 million through an IDA grant. It builds on the Emergency Safety Nets Project approved in 2013. To date, the project is providing quarterly cash transfers to 67,845 families (90 percent of target), reaching 390,465 individuals, of which 49% are women, in the regions of Kayes, Sikasso, Koulikoro, Segou, Mopti, Gao, and in Bamako. The additional financing interventions will help promote development and supporting households’ food security. Its overall purpose is to further strengthen the country’s current social safety net system and increase the resilience of poor and vulnerable households.
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.5 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 54 percent going to Africa.
