IsDB approves $320m financing for water, sanitation, road, health projects
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved $320.56 million in financing to new development projects in water and sanitation, health, roads and women empowerment in Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Yemen, and Indonesia.
The financing includes $40 million for The Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project, in Sierra Leone. The overall objective of the project is to improve the water supply and sanitation services and ensure the sustainability of the vital aquatic ecosystem in the Western Area of the capital Freetown. Work includes the rehabilitation and expansion of water treatment, transmission, storage and distribution systems; and the improvement of solid and liquid waste collection and disposal services.
The financing will also allow for the completion of the construction of the Pendembu-Kailahun road project in Sierra Leone. Located in the southeast of the country, it connects the towns of Pendembu and Kailehun, with no intermittent villages in between. The project aims to enhance the accessibility of the south eastern agricultural provinces to the other parts of the country and develop trade between Sierra Leone and its neighbours, Guinea and Liberia.
In Indonesia, the IsDB has committed $261.7 million to the Strengthening National Referral Hospitals and Vertical Technical Units Project.
The objective is to improve the availability, accessibility, quality, and delivery of health services through upgrading six national referral hospitals and vertical technical units in five provinces. It will feature the construction of 231.000 m2 of health facilities, the provision of 952 hospital beds, and the training of 5,500 hospital staff.
In Burkina Faso, $8.5 million has been allocated for the Business Resilience Assistance for Women Value-Adding Enterprises project. It will support Burkina Faso’s National Plan for Economic and Social Development, which will create 600 direct jobs by women-owned or led MSMEs; and support 13 lead firms that introduce new products to markets.
And in Yemen, the IsDB has agreed a $363,000 technical assistance grant to support the continuity of medicines for thalassemia and genetic blood disorder patients.
The objective of the project is to provide access to life-saving medicine to the most vulnerable among thalassemia and genetic blood disorder patients, including women and children.
