The World Bank has approved the extension of its funding support for the implementation of Community and Social Development Project in Nigeria.
The Information and Communication Officer at the CSDP, Malam Suleiman Odapu, stated that the approval was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and copied the National Coordinator of CSDP, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje.
According to Odapu, the bank extended its financing of the project for three months.
“We are pleased to inform you that the association has accordingly extended the closing date of the project and associated credits to December 31, 2020 for purposes of Section IV.B.2 of Schedule 2 of the Agreements,” the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, stated.
The CSDP was earlier scheduled to close on September 30, 2020. But the Federal Government of Nigeria on September 22, 2020 wrote to the World Bank requesting an extension.
“Government cited the need to strengthen the institutional framework for the implementation of the proposed Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus as part of the reasons for the request to extend the project’s closing date.
“The Federal Project Support Unit of CSDP has been designated as the focal agency for the preparation of the N-CARES Programme,” Odapu stated.
He noted that the CSDP became effective in 2009 and had assisted communities and vulnerable groups, including returnee Internally Displaced Persons to design and implement 17,048 micro projects in key sectors.
The project focuses on rural economy such as education, water, health, transportation, electricity, environment and natural resources conservation as well as community housing, and 30 states, with the Federal Capital Territory, are participating in the project.
“The project, using the highly effective and community friendly tool, the Community-Driven Development approach, has positively impacted on the poor communities as a core strategy for alleviating poverty and promoting inclusive growth in the country since 2009,” he added.
Following the success story of the parent CSDP 2009 to 2013, the Nigerian government had sought assistance from the World Bank towards implementation of the CSDP additional financing.
The project is assisted by the World Bank and co-financed by the participating states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT.
The CSDP is a CDD project focusing on building and rebuilding social and natural resource infrastructure services at the community level.
