The World Bank assisted Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) is now set to start disbursing additional $140million (about 30 billion naira) to twenty six states and FCT for community driven projects.The project had disbursed US$ 200 million from 2009 to 2014 in the first phase of the project.
States to benefit from the additional financing will focus on the most vulnerable households in poor communities in the country. Anambra, Kaduna and Sokoto States are also set to participate in the additional financing.
The additional financing is expected to fund micro-project facilities such as rehabilitation and construction of school class rooms, health centers and clinics, skills acquisition, rural electrification, rural transport, community water schemes, community housing schemes, rural market infrastructure to mention but a few. Vulnerable groups will also benefit from special grants in the projects. Such groups include internally displaced poor persons, marginalized or chronically poor households, widows and the physically challenged.
“This project will not only help vulnerable people in the short term, including those in conflict-affected areas, but will also help build and rebuild long-lasting partnership between local governments and communities. In addition, it will help integrate communities as well as make smart investments in people for the future,” Said Foluso Okunmadewa, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project.
The first phase of the World Bank funding of the Community Social Development Project (CSDP) which benefited over 5,600 communities and about 2 million people in 26 states of the federation was fully disbursed by December 2014 “
“The Bank is happy to approve additional funds for this project to scale up the impact on more communities in Nigeria and, particularly, the vulnerable in the society. It is also another step towards helping those affected by conflicts, especially in the North Eastern part of Nigeria,” Said Indira Konjhodzic, World Bank, Acting Country Director for Nigeria.
The new phase of the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) will end on December 31, 2017.
