WASHINGTON, September 30, 2014 – More than 35,000 vulnerable people, including isolated indigenous and forest communities, will benefit from new and improved sustainable water and sanitation and better basic public services. The World Bank approved a US$ 150 million loan for Brazil’s Acre state, in northwest Amazon.
The new financing will expand the existing Acre Social and Economic Inclusion Project (PROACRE), which has benefited more than 700,000 people to date. The additional financing will focus on the isolated municipalities of Santa Rosa dos Purus, Marechal Thaumaturgo, Jordão and Porto Walter in the Amazon forest.
“Since PROACRE was launched in 2008, the State has improved considerably the living standards of the poorest population in urban and rural areas,” said Sebastião Viana, Governor of the State of Acre. “This new phase will allow us to bring basic services to a greater number of isolated communities, and also help rural producers join in sustainable market chains, expanding social inclusion in parts of the state that have been historically difficult to reach.”(TBC).
Located in the far west of Brazil, Acre has an area as large as Tunisia, and retains 88 percent of its original forest cover. In the early 2000’s, the Government began a series of reforms to open a path to faster and more sustainable growth. However, Acre continues to face crucial development challenges. The state’s per capita GDP remains 60 percent below Brazil’s average, and poverty numbers are higher than in the rest of the country, with more than 133,000 people living with up to US$ 1 per day.
“Social inclusion is crucial to help people leave extreme poverty, especially for those living in Acre’s remote areas,” said Deborah L. Wetzel, World Bank Director for Brazil. “This new operation will help consolidate Acre’s successful model of sustainable development and help bring education, health, sustainable production services and infrastructure to these vulnerable populations.”
Recognizing the rich and diverse traditions and cultural backgrounds in the state, the project tailors actions to each community's characteristics and service delivery approaches, through a participatory mechanism. Among other activities, the new financing will
- Support the construction of water treatment facilities and implementation of 1,120 new piped households water connections in isolated communities;
- Help pave community roads and construct river ramps improve access to services by road and boat; and
- Promote the adoption of integrated solid waste management, and the implementation of sustainable landfills.
This US$150 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to the State of Acre is guaranteed by the Government of Brazil. The loan period is 25 years, including a 5 year grace period
