WASHINGTON, June 28, 2024 - The World Bank has approved a $100 million International Development Association (IDA)* credit to support Mali in improving access to and use of essential quality reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, adolescent, and nutrition health services, as well as strengthening health emergency preparedness in targeted areas.
Using the Results-Based Financing (RBF) approach, the Advancing Resilience and Inclusive Health Systems for Everyone in Mali, Keneya Yiriwali (in Bambara) project aims to improve the overall quality of essential health services, particularly reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services through more coverage areas and higher levels of the health pyramid. It will finance necessary inputs and performance-based payments, in targeted regions and schools, subject to available resources, to improve service delivery performance and availability. This includes climate-vulnerable areas and communities, regional hospitals, and school infirmaries, with a particular focus on adolescent health, climate emergencies, and pandemic preparedness and response. Finally, the project will seek to improve the quality of health sector spending through better management of budget resources, defragmentation of health financing, and information systems to link budgets and performance.
"The expansion of RBF, taking into account both energy and emergency risk management climate risks, is the driving force behind improving the supply of quality health care to the population for the Keneya Yiriwali project. It builds on the results of the Accelerating Progress toward Universal Health Coverage Project (PACSU), which has considerably improved health care utilization, quality scores, drug availability, and patient satisfaction in nine administrative regions," explained Clara de Sousa, World Bank Country Director for Mali. "RBF has proven to be a transformational tool, building capacity in health facilities and supporting local recruitment, infrastructure development, and equipment of laboratories in Mali."
The total amount of this IDA operation is $125 million, jointly financed by the $100 million IDA credit as well as a $25 million grant from the Global Financing Facility (GFF) – including $15 million from the Government of the Netherlands through joint financing with the GFF. This partnership was behind the effective implementation of the FBR approach from 2020 to 2024 through the PACSU in Mali.
"Building on previous support, the GFF grant and joint financing with the Government of the Netherlands will enable strong alignment in Mali to improve health services for women, children and adolescents," said Luc Laviolette, Head of the GFF Secretariat. "Investing in a more resilient and inclusive health system can help ensure the needs of the hardest-to-reach and most climate-vulnerable communities are met."
Keneya Yiriwali will primarily benefit women, adolescent girls and children with a total population of 15.4 million, including 3 million children under the age of 5 and 3.4 million women between the ages of 15 and 49. Its coverage area will extend from the regions initially covered by PACSU, namely Gao, Mopti, Douentza, Bandiagara, San, Segou, Koulikoro, Dioila and Nara, to new regions such as Timbuktu, Bougouni, Koutiala and Sikasso, which have the highest poverty rates, as well as Commune VI of the District of Bamako.
*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. Resources from IDA bring positive change to 1.6 billion people. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged $21 billion over the last three years, with about 61% going to Africa.
Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks
