WASHINGTON, DC, February 4, 2011 – The World Bank Board of Directors approved a new social initiative yesterday that will benefit 20,000 Nicaraguan families living in extreme poverty.
The loan, worth US$19.5 million, will support the Family and Community Integral Care for Social Welfare Model, carried out by the Ministry of Families, Adolescence and Childhood (MIFAN).
The Social Welfare Project is focused on families living in extreme poverty, with one or more children under 13 years old, prioritizing those children that are currently working and/or outside the school system.
“The project will be carried out in a gradual manner, until covering some 20,000 families living in the poorest municipalities, such as Jinotega, Matagalpa, Leon, Esteli, Chinandega y Madriz,” said Marcia Ramirez, Minister of MIFAN.
The implementation of this model will provide on-going support and family counseling, as well as 2-year family scholarships, will carry out community educational workshops and provide information on the availability of local social services for families to access.
“The project will promote attendance rates among preschool and primary school-age children by providing school meals in priority municipalities”, said Camille Nuamah, World Bank Resident Representative in Nicaragua.
The Social Welfare Project will also provide technical assistance to the MIFAN in order to strengthen management within the Ministry, inter-institutional coordination to formulate the National Welfare System. The project will also help the government to provide supervision, monitoring and evaluation at the central, regional and local levels.
The project will be implemented by MIFAN over a 5-year period, from March 31, 2011 through September 30, 2015, with an interest-free credit provided by the International Development Association (IDA) that has a 40-year maturity period, including a 10-year grace period.
