Fuente: © World Bank
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Democratic Republic Of Congo: World Bank Approves US$90 million Budget Support Operation

/noticias.info/ WASHINGTON, December 8, 2005 – The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) grant of US$90 million to support the implementation of DRC’s Government economic program.

The Transitional Support for Economic Recovery Operation aims to consolidate important reforms already launched in the areas of: (i) increasing the pro-poor public spending in priority areas, including public service delivery in education and health; (ii) strengthening public expenditure and civil service management; and (iii) improving governance in forestry and mining sectors. These reforms will lay the ground for further reforms – within the context of the country’s preparation for the elections which are scheduled for the first half of 2006 and which will mark the end of the political transition.

The operation supports in particular three key measures in the forestry sector. First, the extension and strengthening of a moratorium on the awarding of new logging concessions until such a time when a strategy for the use of DRC’s forest resources is elaborated in consultation with all affected and potentially affected stakeholders, including indigenous people, and is duly adopted. Second, the publication of all concessions awarded to date. Third, a review of the legality of all existing concessions, with the support of independent observers. These measures are expected to help increase transparency and to promote the environmentally sustainable and socially responsible use of DRC’s forests.

“I am pleased to note the declaration of support for the Bank’s work in the forestry sector which was published by 14 Congolese NGOs in the local press. I am also heartened by the support expressed by organizations such as Greenpeace (on its website) to the Government for the adoption of the measures supported under the Grant” said John McIntire, the Director for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development in the World Bank’s Africa Region.

The operation will also support reforms in the mining sector, within the broader context of DRC’s adhesion to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Such reforms are key to ensure that the benefits of the restart of mining activities are shared by the entire Congolese population.

Finally, this operation aims to help the Government increase both the level and the effectiveness of social expenditure, especially in the health and education sectors. Such improvements are particularly important in a country where social indicators remain alarming. The operation will also assist the Government in executing its ongoing civil servant retirement program and help improve payroll procedures and human resources management.

“The Transitional Support for Economic Recovery Operation will allow the Government to continue and further reforms in critical areas of the economy, and lay the ground for further reforms as the political transition comes to an end”, said Keiko Kubota, the World Bank Task Team Leader of the project.

The DRC is one of the world’s poorest countries, with a gross domestic product per capita at $114. It is emerging from a decade of instability and years of civil war, during which over 3 million people lost their lives. The ongoing political transition process is expected to come to an end with a series of elections which are scheduled for the first half of 2006. notas_de_prensa_archivo