WASHINGTON, September 27, 2018 – Today, the World Bank Group approved a $53 million grant – $43 million from the International Development Association (IDA)* and $10 million from the Global Financing Facility (GFF)** – for the Health System Support and Strengthening Project, or SENI, which means “health” in the local language.
SENI aims to increase access to and improve the quality of essential health services in targeted areas in the Central African Republic (regions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6).
“SENI mainly targets pregnant women, children under five, and victims of violence against women,” says Driss Zine Eddine El Idrissi, World Bank Task Team Leader. “The project will help the Government provide free health care to pregnant women and children under five.”
In total, 392 health care institutions in 15 health districts, including 20 district hospitals, will receive direct support from SENI, achieving coverage of close to 44 percent of the population.
“SENI will also help the Government of the Central African Republic strengthen its health system, as it will enable the Ministry of Health to build its institutional capacity to improving its governance, health care funding, the health information system, and human resources policy in the sector,” explains Robert Bou Jaoude, World Bank Country Manager for the Central African Republic.
“The GFF is pleased to partner with the government of the Central African Republic to support its commitment to improving the health and nutrition of the poorest and most vulnerable,” said Mariam Claeson, Director of the Global Financing Facility. “The government’s leadership in investing in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition will pay dividends, particularly in lives saved and improved, for years to come.”
The project implementation will span three years (2019-2021).
* 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.
**The Global Financing Facility (GFF) is a multi-stakeholder partnership that is helping countries tackle the greatest health and nutrition issues affecting women, children and adolescents. The GFF brings governments and partners together around a country-led plan, prioritizing high-impact but underinvested areas of health. The GFF Trust Fund acts as a catalyst for financing, with countries using modest GFF Trust Fund grants to significantly increase their domestic resources alongside the World Bank’s IDA and IBRD financing, aligned external financing, and private sector resources. Each relatively small external investment is multiplied by countries’ own commitments—generating a large return on investment, ultimately saving and improving lives. Learn more: www.globalfinancingfacility.org and @theGFF
