South Sudan secures 120 mln USD from World Bank for infrastructure growth

(uza.uz)

JUBA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said Thursday it has secured 120 million U. S. dollars from the World Bank through its development arm International Development Association for infrastructure development.

Agak Achuil Lual, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said the funds would also be used to strengthen community institutions, and enhance food resilience in the east African country.

"The funds will help improve basic services delivery, particularly for the country's most vulnerable populations, and foster social cohesion which is vital for the development of the country," Lual said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

The official said the project will be implemented under the five-year strategic plan of enhancing community resilience and local government project phase II (ECRP-II), noting that the project will also benefit 920,000 people in 12 of the country's 79 counties.

The minister said a series of conflicts and a succession of severe floods have had a devastating effect on South Sudan's infrastructure.

Firas Raad, World Bank country manager for South Sudan, said conflict has forced displacement of millions of South Sudanese hence affecting their social fabrics, weakening both formal and informal institutions in the country.

Raad said the money will help improve access to basic infrastructure, strengthen community institutions, and also enhance food resilience.

He said the project will target the most conflict-affected areas to scale up reconstruction efforts, adding that the project will be implemented by the ministry of finance in collaboration with the local government board across the country. ■