WASHINGTON, March 15, 2016 – The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an additional financing of US$35 million grant to strengthen ongoing activities under the Reproductive Health Project in Burkina Faso.
The initial project supported by a US$41.6 million grant from the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA), of which US$12.7 million came from the multidonor “Health Results Innovation Trust Fund”, began in 2011. It aimed to improve the delivery and the quality of reproductive health services through results-based financing (RBF) in five regions and to finance key activities for family planning and reproductive health services at the national level.
Today’s grant will continue to provide general support for the delivery of an array of health services through RBF and strengthen reproductive health services. More specifically, this financing will support the implementation of a number of recommendations stemming from the mid-term review of the project, which took place in July 2015, thus facilitating financing of the costs associated with the expansion of piloted strategies under way, such as community-based targeting of the poor and of vulnerable populations and subsidizing of their health care, as well as community-based health insurance. This financing will also facilitate the introduction of interventions aimed at addressing the needs of groups vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
According to Cheick Kanté, World Bank Country Manager for Burkina Faso, “this additional grant will enhance the accessibility and quality of reproductive health services in Burkina Faso. It marks a renewed commitment by the World Bank to the country in the area of strengthening human capital.”
Task Team Leader, Ousmane Dadie Haidara, states that “this financing will help support the country with implementation of innovative strategies to achieve universal health coverage, such as RBF in Burkina Faso, which emphasizes equity to ensure that even the poorest have access to quality health services. The additional financing will also help the project expand high-impact HIV/AIDS interventions.”
Paul Jacob Robyn, World Bank Co-Task Team Leader, notes that “the RBF approach in Burkina Faso is paired with community-based targeting and mutual health organizations to help reduce financial constraints for disadvantaged people. With the improvement of the quality of health services and the motivation of health care providers, there will be more extensive coverage of essential health services for everyone. In light of the positive outcomes of the pilot phase, the additional financing of this project will contribute to the expansion of these innovative strategies."
This additional grant brings the total financing of the project to over US$76 million.
