Bolivia: 350 Thousand Rural Inhabitants to Benefit from Direct Community Investments

This article originally appeared on the World Bank website. More information about the project can be found at the project website.

On August 4, the World Bank (WB) Board of Executive Directors approved US$60 million in additional financing to expand the successful implementation of the Community Investment in Rural Areas Project (PICAR). The additional financing will increase the number of beneficiaries from 150 thousand to 350 thousand, most of them indigenous, and almost half women, in La Paz, Oruro, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba and Pando departments.

Up until now, a good portion of the initiatives were focused on creating or improving drinking water and sewer infrastructure, irrigation and micro-irrigation canals, pedestrian and vehicular bridges, greenhouses and cattle enclosures, among others.

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Renewed support for infrastructure in developing countries

The Netherlands has renewed its system of financial support for major infrastructure projects in developing countries. “The building and construction of, for example, ports, irrigation systems and coastal protection are crucial to economic development and improve the lives of the population. The new DRIVE program plays an important and innovative way in this,” says Minister Ploumen for Foreign Trade and Development.

It is expected that over the coming years investments in infrastructure will increase enormously in Africa. Reports speak of a ‘boom’ more than $ 100 billion in investments annually over a long period. DRIVE stands for Development and Related Infrastructure Investment Vehicle, and is the successor of the Program for Development-related Infrastructure in Developing Countries (ORIO).

Continue reading the press release (in Dutch).

More information in English at the RVO Website.

Vanuatu signs US$59.5 million aviation agreement with World Bank

Original article at http://goo.gl/cag8HE.

Aviation sector receives critical upgrade

PORT VILA, June 3, 2015–The Vanuatu Government today signed a US$59.5 million credit agreement with the World Bank to improve the safety and efficiency of its aviation sector – a critical pillar in Vanuatu’s continued social and economic development, and a key part of its disaster management and recovery activities.

Image result for vanuatu airport

Project website: http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P154149?lang=en

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Discussing Green Growth at the Indonesia Green Infrastructure Summit

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Economic growth in Indonesia has been rapid, but it has led to environmental degradation and will be counter-productive in the long-term.
  • Indonesia must shift from a ‘brown’ to a ‘green’ growth model to ensure a sustainable growth that would benefit everyone.
  • The 2015 Indonesia Green Infrastructure Summit will seek ways to mainstream green growth in infrastructure development, with the private sector and government working together.