DUSHANBE, February 21, Asia-Plus - Grant agreements between the Government of Tajikistan the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) on the Community and Basic Health Project and the Municipal Infrastructure Development Project were signed in the building of the Ministry of Finance in Dushanbe today, according to information from the World Bank’s Dushanbe Office.  

As it had been reported earlier, the Community and Basic Health Project for Tajikistan was approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on February 15 2005 .  This project will be funded by a World Bank Grant in the amount of USD 10 million, grants from SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency) for USD 6 million in co-financing and a further USD 2 million in parallel financing, and a grant from SDC (Swiss Development Cooperation) in the amount of USD 1.2 million. The objective of the project is to increase access to, utilization of, and patient satisfaction with health services in project areas and to support the health reform process in Tajikistan

A USD15 million grant for the Municipal Infrastructure Development Project for Tajikistan was endorsed by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on January 19 2006 .  This project aims to help the Tajik Government provide accessible, reliable and good quality basic municipal services for the population of the eight participating cities.  Ensuring access to basic municipal services is an important factor in supporting the growth of local economies and reducing poverty.

Information of Asia-Plus: The Republic of Tajikistan became a member of the World Bank and the  International Development Association (IDA) on June 4, 1993 .  Since that time, commitments to the country total approximately US$390 million for projects approved on both a lending and grant basis. At the moment, the active portfolio of Bank-supported projects consists of 11 investment operations for a total commitment of US$148 million, of which about 35% has been disbursed.