NGO commends World Bank for $49.3b package to poorest nations
Mr Mustapha Sanah, Executive Chairman of Northern Ghana Aid (NOGAID), has lauded the $49.3 billion World Bank Group assistance package to poorest countries under the International Development Authority (IDA 16) of the bank.
He noted that the climate was right to improve on the fragile economies of Africa and maximising growth through investment in areas that would improve the well-being of the people.
Mr Sanah who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra expressed the need for beneficiaries of the fund to prioritise their development programmes and strive to reduce waste in the public sector by improving transparency and accountability in governance.
He also called for people-centred policies and programmes to accelerate poverty reduction on the continent.
Mr Sanah said the World Bank decision was as a result of meticulous advocacy by civil society groups (CSOs) and therefore governments in Africa must see it as the leeway towards achieving 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) commitments.
He said at the last annual meeting of the World Bank/ International Monetary Fund Group in Washington, in the US, NOGAID- an international non-governmental organisation together with other CSO’s made a strong case for increased trade and investment in Africa.
“We are proud to be associated with the outcome of IDA 16 record funding to poorest countries,” he added.
Mr Sanah said fighting poverty required the involvement of all stakeholders and through a multi-faceted approach.
On December 15 a final agreement was reached in Brussels by the World Bank through the IDA for a $49.3 billion for poorest countries in the world towards the achievement of the MDGs.
This follows pledges not only from traditional donors but also funding from within the World Bank Group and from current and former IDA borrowers.
“This strong level of support is a testimony to IDA’s relentless focus on results that bring improvements on the ground for poor people,” Mr Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank Group, said.
“Within this robust IDA replenishment, we will have the ability to help immunise 200 million more children, extend health services to over 30 million people, give access to improved water sources to 80 million more people, help build 80,000 kilometres of roads and train and recruit over two million teachers,” he said.
The agreement marks the last opportunity for donors and poor countries to effectively use IDA funds to make more progress on reaching the MDGs, which includes the internationally agreed target to halve poverty by 2015.
A total of 51 donors pledged to IDA16, which covers the period from July 2011 to June 2014.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Bank Managing Director of IDA 16 negotiations said “IDA can help ensure that development dollars benefit both the developing and developed worlds.”
Over the next three years, IDA will help 79 of the world’s poorest countries boost growth and overcome poverty by financing infrastructure, improving health services, educating children, and combating climate change. Special focus will be given to addressing gender issues and helping fragile and conflict affected countries in their quest for peace and development.
As in the past, Sub-Saharan Africa will remain a major focus of IDA support.
Source: GNA