WASHINGTON, March 26, 2014 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved additional support for Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to make social services and community development activities work for poor people. The new funding will focus on the most vulnerable households in the country.
The IDA* credit of over US$140 million to the Community and Social Development Project builds on the project’s successes to date. So far, completed micro-projects have benefited 5,600 communities and over 2 million people in 26 participating states.
The micro-projects include community infrastructure built for education, skills acquisition, environment, health, rural electrification, transport, and water, and also rural market infrastructure.
“A recent assessment of the Community and Social Development Project shows that school enrollment, immunization, and access to electricity and safe water have all increased in project communities, and so has the focus on preserving and improving community land assets,” said Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria. “In its new phase, the project will focus mainly on the most vulnerable people, in line with the World Bank’s mission to eliminate poverty and boost shared prosperity.”
Vulnerable groups that will benefit from grants include internally displaced poor persons, marginalized or chronically poor households, widows and the physically challenged. This support will help vulnerable people gain access to social services and community infrastructure.
“This project not only helps vulnerable people in the short term, including those in conflict-affected areas, it will also help to build long-lasting partnership between local governments and communities, which is very important as it helps to integrate communities and make smart investments in people for the future,” said Foluso Okunmadewa, World Bank task team leader for the project.
The Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) will now be extended to December 31, 2017.
