WASHINGTON, September 28, 2023 – The World Bank today approved $200 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA)* for the Secondary Cities Urban Mobility and Development Project in Burkina Faso.
This new project aims to improve urban mobility, access to basic services, and economic opportunities while strengthening institutional capacity for urban management in selected secondary cities. Several criteria, such as the impact of internally displaced persons (IDPs) on host communities and vulnerability to climate shocks (e.g., floods and extreme temperatures), were used to select the cities.
“Burkina Faso is rapidly urbanizing and secondary cities are sources of resilience. It was also important for the Bank to partner with the Burkinabe government to create economic opportunities by prioritizing investments in infrastructure and basic services in secondary cities. These investments are geared toward improving the living conditions and socioeconomic recovery of Burkinabe citizens affected by insecurity and the humanitarian crisis,” said Maimouna Mbow Fam, World Bank Country Manager for Burkina Faso.
According to Ibrahim Kaboré, World Bank Task Team Leader, “This project comes as an urgent response to the current context of fragility where secondary cities are hosting increasing and significant numbers of IDPs. It will help integrate vulnerable persons into the social and economic fabric of host cities while strengthening the capacity of these communes to plan and implement context-specific urban development policies.”
*The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank’s fund for the poorest. Established in 1960, it provides 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 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. IDA resources help effect positive change in the lives of the 1.6 billion people living in the countries that are eligible for its assistance. Since its inception, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments are constantly on the rise and have averaged $21 billion over the past three years, with about 61% going to Africa.
