Kabul, Dec 13 (UNI) The World Bank would be providing Afghanistan with two grants totalling $85M as part of a financial package to help Afghanistan alleviate COVID-19 impacts and improve access to clean water, sanitation, and public services. The World Bank Board of Executive Directors on Saturday approved these two grants from the International Development Association (IDA). This aid is part of the $393 million financial package the bank would provide to Afghanistan.
The World Bank in a statement says the financial packages comprise $50 million from IDA for the Afghanistan Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Institutional Support (A-WASH) Project. The grant will total $200 million, including $150 million from the ARTF. The statement says the project will improve access to and quality of water supply in Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat and strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Corporation (AUWSSC) to deliver sustainable services and contribute to national efforts to manage COVID-19 and other disasters.
Meanwhile, $35 million of the fund is for the Second Additional Financing of the Citizens’ Charter Afghanistan Project (CCAP). The grant will total $193 million, including $158 million from the ARTF, the World Bank said. The project aims to improve the delivery of core infrastructure, emergency support, and social services to communities through strengthened Community Development Councils (CDCs). Under the Second Additional Financing, the Citizens’ Charter Project will expand its service delivery to 10 new cities across Afghanistan, continue to respond to the COVID-19 crisis among communities, provide critical assistance to Kuchi communities, increase employment through public works, initiate peace pilots in rural and urban areas, and continue to strengthen gender equality.