The World Bank Board of Executive Directors on Saturday approved two grants totaling nearly $85 million from the International Development Association (IDA), as part of a $393 million financial package to help Afghanistan alleviate COVID-19 impacts and improve access to clean water, sanitation, and public services.
The $85 million IDA grants are part of two financial packages that include additional support from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), a multi-donor fund managed by the World Bank on behalf of 34 donors.
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.
“Access to clean water, hygiene, and basic services is essential to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, including COVID-19,” said Henry Kerali, World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan.