WASHINGTON, July 17, 2018— The World Bank approved today a $30 million International Development Association (IDA)* credit to help Togo address urban development challenges and reduce service delivery gaps in some of its most populated municipalities.
The new Infrastructure and Urban Development Project (PIDU- Projet d’infrastructure et de développement urbain) will rehabilitate, restore and improve infrastructure facilities in the underserviced neighborhoods of three selected cities (Lomé, Kara, Dapaong). It will also strengthen the institutional capacity of seven municipalities (Atakpamé, Dapaong, Lomé, Kara, Kpalimé, Sokodé, Tsévié) in managing sustainable urban development, through technical assistance, trainings and other capacity building activities. About 2.3 million people will directly or indirectly benefit from the project.
“Cities in Togo are rapidly expanding, but infrastructure services in most secondary cities remain inadequate. This new investment will provide inhabitants of selected cities with improved living conditions, and with improved urban planning and management that could later translate into investments actions,” said Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Togo.
The PIDU has been designed with a phased approach in investments. A priority investment program developed during the project preparation will be implemented soon after project effectiveness, followed by other selective activities identified through local planning processes. Through its lifespan, the PIDU will potentially finance urban roads and public space improvements, water points, drainage and storm water management systems, small social and economic infrastructure such as markets, schools and health facilities.
This new project responds to the government’s request to scale up investments on urban infrastructure in Togo’s cities following a successful implementation of the PURISE (“Projet d’urgence pour la rehabilitation des infrastructures et services électriques”), a previous infrastructure project funded by the World Bank. It is also fully aligned with the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework, which highlights the need to promote the capacity of the municipalities to improve access to infrastructure and services and to mitigate climate risks and build resilience of cities through both infrastructure and capacity building efforts.
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing 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 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.5 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 54 percent going to Africa.
