Haiti gets World Bank support to improve future outlook on health and job creation

The Board of Directors of the World Bank has approved a $70 million grant to Haiti to increase access to maternal and child basic health services, while the whole economy will benefit from another grant for $20 million, which will improve the country’s business climate to attract private investment and generate growth.

The grant is from the International Development Association (IDA), a press release issued May 21, 2013 has said.

 Alexandre V. Abrantes, the World Bank’s Special Envoy to Haiti said, “Three-and-a-half years after the earthquake, Government and partners are shifting their focus to lifting the structural bottlenecks that hamper Haiti’s long-term development. These projects aim to improve Haiti’s outlook for the future by improving the health status of Haitian families, building a stronger health system, creating jobs and jumpstarting sustainable growth.”

According to the release, the $70 million Improving Maternal and Child Health through Integrated Social Services Project will increase access to and use of maternal and child health, nutrition and social services in at least three Departments: West, Northeast and Northwest.

The project, which is co-financed by a $20 million grant from the Multi-donor Trust Fund for Health Results Innovation, will benefit 1.8 million people, including pregnant women, children under five and vulnerable families.

The second project approved for $20 million -Business Development and Investment Project- will foster economy-wide business environment reforms, in order to spur local and foreign private investment and job creation in light manufacturing, apparel, tourism and agribusiness, among others, the release said.

By Dorcas Appiah