Algiers, April 30th, 2012 – The World Bank and the Government of Algeria recently signed six technical assistance agreements for the Bank’s advisory services in the areas of agriculture, environment, and social protection under the World Bank’s Algeria Country Partnership Program for 2011-14.
“The agreements are a testimony to the trust the Algerian Government has in the World Bank’s international experience,” said Simon Gray, the World Bank Director of the Maghreb countries. “We look forward to sharing this experience and supporting Algeria in achieving its goals, especially as far as economic diversification is concerned.”
The Algerian Government has developed a comprehensive strategy geared towards a more diversified economy and is working closely with the World Bank on ongoing reforms. Financed by the Algerian government, TA programs deliver cross-cutting consultative and advisory services to governments keen to access World Bank knowledge and global expertise.
In the agricultural sector, three TA agreements were signed to support ongoing efforts to enhance the sector’s productivity and performance. The TA will advance capacity building in agricultural statistics, information systems and monitoring and evaluation in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The second agreement will support the design, implementation, management, supervision and monitoring and evaluation of the Program of Support for Rural Renewal (PSRR) using an integrated and participatory approach. The third agreement works on the revitalization of supply chains and the development of integrated agro-industrial poles (PAI) designed to respond to local food needs and develop exports to neighboring markets.
The environment TA supports capacity building for integrated desert management focused on ecosystem preservation and improving livelihoods for people within the framework of the National Territorial Management Plan. Algeria’s territory includes 2 million square kilometers of desert which poses both challenges of water stress and economic distribution of opportunities and markets.
TA agreements in the social sector were signed with the Ministry of National Solidarity and Family and its agencies, the Social Development Agency and the National Agency for Management Microcredit. The work will help strengthen capacities for the monitoring and impact evaluation of social sector programs. The World Bank will also assist the ministry in the review of its sector strategy.
“We are glad to have advanced well with the first wave of TA agreements in agriculture, environment, and social protection,” said Moukim Temourov, the World Bank Algeria Resident Representative. “We look forward to expanding our work in the financial sector to support the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance, as well as in the telecommunications sector.” Temourov added that the Bank will also support the government’s effort to improve the methodology to analyze and track youth employment.
