Community development, transport and budgetary assistance - Mali is to receive 61 billion FCFA from the World Bank and the French development agency (AFD) under three separate agreements signed on Thursday in Bamako. The agreements are related to community development, transport and budgetary assistance, local sources told PANA. The first agreement for more than 31 billion FCFA signed with the World Bank is meant to finance a project to support Mali's urban districts.

The financial support aims at consolidating the development of institutional programmes for the districts of Bamako and Kayes (West), Sikkaso (South), Ségou (Centre) and Mopti (North).

The implementation of the project will contribute to attain specific goals, particularly the efficient and appropriate planning to meet the priority services identified by the people.

The project also focuses on the improvement and efficiency of the financial management of infrastructure and the efficient implementation of the annual investment plans.

The second agreement signed with the World Bank for 10.3 billion FCFA will contribute to implement the second stage of the sectoral transport project.

The project aims at opening up the country through the renovation of roads, the maintenance of rural strips, the setting up and building of quays.

The third agreement signed with France focuses on the modalities and conditions to allocate the funds granted to Mali as part of the convention on its monetary debt to France.

With this agreement, France, through AFD, makes 20 billion FCFA available for the Malian government.

The money will help Mali finance, over the next three years, half of its budget in support to the growth and poverty alleviation strategy.

The aid will be allocated for the rate of 20% to the development of the private sector by targeting the reform of several organisations and the improvement of capacities, as 30% are reserved for the development of northern Mali regions (Timbuktu, Gao et Kidal).

Pana 29/07/2011