Press Release No: 2009/430/AFR
Washington DC-June 30, 2009. The Board of Directors of the World Bank today approved a total of US$24.2 million to provide additional grants to Liberia for the Emergency Infrastructure Project (EIP), and Agriculture and Infrastructure Development Project.
The additional grants will help finance the costs associated with over-runs and the scaling up of activities to enhance development impact.
1. Emergency Infrastructure Project (EIP) US$8.2million
2. Agriculture and Infrastructure Development Project (AIDP) US$16.0 million
The main additions to the EIP are: (i) cover cost overruns for five project activities; (ii) modify at zero cost the technical intervention of specified road works on the Freeport of Monrovia to Cotton Tree road corridor; (iii) introduce a new project activity in the port of Monrovia; and (iv) drop three specific project activities from the project design.
The major additions to the AIDP on the other hand are to: i) cover cost over-runs for a major consultancy assignment and for the construction of a critical bridge in Monrovia; (ii) for scaling up road works on 83 km corridors from Freeport of Monrovia to Cotton Tree; and (iii) for dropping three activities from the project.
The World Bank project will also support capacity-strengthening of Liberia's Ministry of Public Works, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, and the Monrovia City Corporation through the provision of consultants' services.
Both the EIP and AIDP modified and scaled up project activities under the proposed additional financing are aimed to further solidify benefits of the original projects.
The Ministry of Public Works is implementing the projects on behalf of the Government of Liberia. The newly appointed Public Work Minister, Hon. Samuel Kofi Woods has expressed the Government's gratitude for the tremendous support of the World Bank; and has promised to make this year one of "Implementation and Action."
The AIDP and the EIP, which are consistent with pillar four of the country's Poverty Reduction Strategy: Rebuilding Infrastructure and Providing Basic Services; broadly have three expected development outcomes:
1. Conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction;
2. Infrastructure services for private sector development; and
3. Rural services and infrastructure
After years of post civil war reconstruction, Liberia needs significant technical and financial assistance. The projects, therefore, provide a critical support to the country. The projects will specifically provide additional funding to transportation, including roads, bridges, and Monrovia Freeport.
For more information, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/liberia
Contact:
Roosevelt Ganteh Tule
+ (231) 6606948
rtule@worldbank.org