World Bank Approves Community Based Poverty Reduction Project in Nigeria

News Release No. 2006/226/AFR Contacts : In Washington: John Donaldson (202) 473-1367

-- Email:jdonaldson@worldbank.org In Abuja: Obadiah Tohomdet (234) 09-3145269-74

-- Email:otohomdet@worldbank.org

World Bank Approves US$25 Million to Support Community-Based Poverty ReductionProject

WASHINGTON, February 1, 2007 The Board of Executive Directors of the WorldBank today approved a US$25 million International Development Association (IDA)credit to provide additional funding for the Community Based Poverty ReductionProject (CPRP) in Nigeria. The project aims to improve access for the poor to social and economic servicesand increase the availability and management of development resources at the community level. The Project will be implemented in eight states: Abia, Cross Rivers, Ekiti,Kogi, Kebbi, Yobe, Kwara, and Ebonyi. The additional financing will ensure that about 600 community-based povertyreduction micro-projects that are currently underway are completed. The fundingwill also help maintain the momentum of the Community-driven developmentapproach in the country until a nationwide community development project,currently under preparation by the Federal Government, begins. "The additional funding will continue to support government efforts to empowercommunities to become agents and beneficiaries of change to improve the livesof their citizens," said Foluso Okunmadewa, the World Bank Task Team Leader ofthe project. The additional financing will address unmet demands and requests from communitygroups for micro-projects in virtually all the states currently implementingthe CPRP.The first Community Based Poverty Reduction Project (CPRP), using the communitydriven development approach was approved in 2000 for US$60 million.The supplemental credit is for two years and will close on August 31, 2008.

###For more information on the World Bank's work in sub-Saharan Africa visit:http://www.worldbank.org/afr For more information on the World Bank's work in Nigeria visit:http://www.worldbank.org/afr/nigeria For more information about this project visit:http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=368896&menuPK=368930&Projectid=P102966