KABUL, July 31, 2018 —, discussed reforms and development progress in the country, and reassured World Bank’s continued support to the people of Afghanistan.
. The region includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan is the first country in the region Hart has visited in his new role.
. He also held discussions about Afghanistan development challenges and opportunities with representatives from non-governmental organizations, women community, private sector, and international partners.
“I am delighted to visit Afghanistan and see firsthand how the World Bank is helping the government serve Afghan people in areas such as health, education, citizen empowerment, agriculture, water supply and sanitation, and institutional reforms,” said Schafer. “.”
During his interactions with the Afghan leadership and local and international partners, , including by working to leverage donors’ resources through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) to finance investments and knowledge services that help stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and ensure delivery of services across the country.
*********
Note to Editors:
. The Bank administers the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), the World Bank Group’s largest single-country multi-donor trust fund.. Together, ARTF and the International Development Association (IDA, the World Bank Group’s fund for the poorest countries) provide more than $1 billion a year in grants ($250 million from IDA and about $800-$900 million from the ARTF). Additionally, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the largest global development institution focused on the private sector development, has committed a total of $54.5 million to Afghanistan. World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has provided guarantees worth $121 million for four projects in Afghanistan.
