WB-assisted projects see higher disbursement
Dhaka, May 20 (UNB) - The yearly aggregated disbursement for the World Bank-supported projects saw an uptrend over the last four years showing a disbursement figure of US$ 400 million as of April 30 of the current fiscal.
The total disbursement amount during the corresponding period of the last fiscal (July 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011) was US$ 305 million.
The World Bank’s current portfolio in Bangladesh consists of 34 active projects with a commitment of $5.8 billion, the highest ever for the country, according to a WB press release.
The government and the World Bank on Sunday jointly completed a portfolio review of the WB-supported operations in Bangladesh.
In fiscal 2011- ‘12, the World Bank committed US$ 920 million in six new projects for improving primary education, strengthening Union Parishads, providing electricity to villages through solar home systems, facilitating formal employment for poor women, increasing access to safe water in arsenic- and salinity-inflicted areas and improving agricultural productivity.
The portfolio review found satisfactory progress in many projects and suggested gearing up implementation works in other projects.
The project teams, Economic Relations Division and the World Bank highlighted the need for resolving systemic issues such as vacant positions to speed up the implementation of the slow-moving projects.
Apart from taking stock of the project implementation progress, the discussion also focused on projects closing within a year.
“We’re encouraged to see results in many areas such as increase in girl’s enrollment in school; schooling, reduction in under five child mortality or better disaster preparedness that have made Bangladesh a role model for its neighbors,” said Christine E Kimes, Operations Advisor, World Bank Bangladesh.
“These and other achievements have transformed the lives of millions of people in the country. We’re proud of being a partner to Bangladesh’s progress for the last 40 years.”
The government and the World Bank teams participating in the portfolio review identified actions to accelerate disbursement in the remaining months of FY 12 and to achieve desired development results. Improved implementation will be required to further enhance disbursements.
“The government is fully committed to ensuring that external financing is utilised well and for the purposes intended,” said Arastoo Khan, Additional Secretary, Economic Relations Division.
“The portfolio review of the World Bank supported projects with the line ministries and the World Bank demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to faster and effective implementation of the Annual Development Plan.”
The total disbursement amount during the corresponding period of the last fiscal (July 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011) was US$ 305 million.
The World Bank’s current portfolio in Bangladesh consists of 34 active projects with a commitment of $5.8 billion, the highest ever for the country, according to a WB press release.
The government and the World Bank on Sunday jointly completed a portfolio review of the WB-supported operations in Bangladesh.
In fiscal 2011- ‘12, the World Bank committed US$ 920 million in six new projects for improving primary education, strengthening Union Parishads, providing electricity to villages through solar home systems, facilitating formal employment for poor women, increasing access to safe water in arsenic- and salinity-inflicted areas and improving agricultural productivity.
The portfolio review found satisfactory progress in many projects and suggested gearing up implementation works in other projects.
The project teams, Economic Relations Division and the World Bank highlighted the need for resolving systemic issues such as vacant positions to speed up the implementation of the slow-moving projects.
Apart from taking stock of the project implementation progress, the discussion also focused on projects closing within a year.
“We’re encouraged to see results in many areas such as increase in girl’s enrollment in school; schooling, reduction in under five child mortality or better disaster preparedness that have made Bangladesh a role model for its neighbors,” said Christine E Kimes, Operations Advisor, World Bank Bangladesh.
“These and other achievements have transformed the lives of millions of people in the country. We’re proud of being a partner to Bangladesh’s progress for the last 40 years.”
The government and the World Bank teams participating in the portfolio review identified actions to accelerate disbursement in the remaining months of FY 12 and to achieve desired development results. Improved implementation will be required to further enhance disbursements.
“The government is fully committed to ensuring that external financing is utilised well and for the purposes intended,” said Arastoo Khan, Additional Secretary, Economic Relations Division.
“The portfolio review of the World Bank supported projects with the line ministries and the World Bank demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to faster and effective implementation of the Annual Development Plan.”
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