LUSAKA, February 20, 2024 — In an effort to drive greater development and trade, the World Bank is supporting improvements in transport and trade connectivity along the Dar es Salaam Corridor between Zambia and Tanzania.
The six-year Transport Corridors for Economic Resilience (TRACER) project, backed by a $270 million International Development Association (IDA) grant, aims to improve the efficiency, connectivity, and climate resilience of key regional transport and trade corridors in Eastern and Southern Africa.
"TRACER is a significant commitment to regional trade and transportation. By focusing on strategic improvements and climate resilience, we hope this will pave the way for a more robust and sustainable economic future for Zambia and its neighbors," said Achim Fock, Country Manager for Zambia. “The transport and logistics sector are expected to experience a boost from targeted activities aimed at institutional and sectoral capacity building.”
The project will benefit 2.5 million people in Zambia, or approximately 13% of the population. This includes 500,000 direct beneficiaries within Zambia, with an additional 2 million people set to experience indirect advantages. The project's reach extends beyond borders, positively impacting communities in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi.
The project will rehabilitate the Serenje-Mpika section of the corridor, developing a One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Nakonde, and converting the existing corridor into a safety, mobility, automated, real-time traffic management (SMART) corridor. The project is also expected to address the challenges of inadequate trade and transport facilitation systems, missing and weak infrastructure links, and inefficient transport and logistics that the region frequently faces.
"TRACER is not just about infrastructure; it's about people. From cargo owners to local communities, the ripple effects of improved transport corridors will be felt across the region, driving development, and facilitating trade in unprecedented ways," said Aymen Ahmed Osman Ali, World Bank Senior Transport Specialist, and project team leader.
*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 74 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has provided $496 billion to 114 countries. Annual commitments have increased steadily and averaged about $34.7 billion over the last three years (FY20-FY22), with about 70 percent going to Africa. Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks
