WASHINGTON, July 30, 2024 — With a focus on nutrition, healthcare and education, a new World Bank-financed project will empower boys and girls through improved access to quality nutrition, healthcare, and basic education services in Burundi. The project is expected to benefit an estimated of 13.2 million people over the five years including 1.9 million refugees and host communities.
The project will significantly improve the supply and access to education and health services across the country, leading to better outcomes for children and contributing to a healthier, more educated workforce.
The project features cross-cutting interventions. These will leverage technology to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of project activities, promote citizen engagement, and adopt a multidimensional approach to closing the gender gap. Key activities will be jointly implemented by the health and education sectors, following principles of co-location (same settings), co-action (same course of action), and co-utilization (same tools). These initiatives will include best practices in early childhood development, health team interventions in schools, targeting vulnerable populations, and expanding and sustaining performance-based financing in education.
“The project supports the government's development plans, aligns with global climate goals, and addresses the needs of underserved populations and vulnerable learners including refugees. By investing in human capital, the project will foster economic stability and social cohesion, driving long-term development and resilience in Burundi,” says Hawa Wagué, World Bank Country Manager for Burundi.
Additionally, the project will improve governance and management in the health and education sectors through technical assistance, resource pooling, and universal health coverage. The investment in education signals higher returns and better employment opportunities, with an additional year of schooling increasing income by 15 % and higher levels of education offering even greater economic returns. Education also strengthens societies by improving the next generation's human capital, empowering women, and potentially reducing fertility rates, thereby enabling greater investment in each child's health and education, leading to better human development outcomes in Burundi.
As a first human capital project with a record $227.6 million in funding for Burundi ($200 million in the form of an IDA grant and $27.6 in funding from Global Partnership for Education trust fund), the project will build on the achievements of recent years’ health and education projects.
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s low-income countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for its 75 client countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Since 1960, IDA has provided $552 billion to 115 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $36 billion over the last three years (FY21-FY23), with about 75% going to Africa. Learn more online: https://ida.worldbank.org #IDAworks.
