South Sudan secures $120m from World Bank

South Sudan says it has secured $120m from the World Bank through its development arm International Development Association for infrastructure development.

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Mr Agak Achuil Lual, said the funds would also be used to strengthen community institutions and enhance food resilience in the East African country.

In a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, Mr Lual said, “The funds will help to improve basic services delivery, particularly for the country’s most vulnerable populations, and foster social cohesion which is vital for the development of the country.”

He stated that series of conflicts and a succession of severe floods have had a devastating effect on South Sudan’s infrastructure.

The official said “the project will be implemented under the five-year strategic plan of enhancing community resilience and local government project phase II (ECRP-II). The project will also benefit 920,000 people in 12 of the country’s 79 counties.”

World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, Mr Firas Raad said; “the conflict has forced displacement of millions of South Sudanese hence affecting their social fabrics, weakening both formal and informal institutions in the country.”

Raad said the project would target the most conflict-affected areas to scale up reconstruction efforts.

He added that the project would be implemented by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the local government board across the country.

XINHUA/Christopher Ojilere