$ 480 MN IN WB YEMEN AID TO APPROACH MDGS

SANA'A, Oct. 15 (Saba) - The World Bank has pledged to provide $ 480
million in country aid for Yemen over the next four years.

The sum would be channeled through the International Development
Agency and the International Finance Corporation and directed to
implement 14 development projects during 2010-2013.

The bank's strategy for Yemen said the aid would be released by the
IFD giving $ 140 million in 2010, $ 100 million in 2011, $ 120
million in 2012 and $ 120 million in 2013.

The strategy approved by the WB's CEOs in May this year, noted that
the bank will finance in 2009 five developmental projects including
the project of development of port cities at a cost of $ 35 million,
the second higher education project at $ 10 million, the
anti-bilharzias project at $ 20 million, and the fourth Social
Development Fund project at $ 55 million.

In 2011, four projects would be financed including the finance
modernization project at a cost of $ 10 million, the comprehensive
urban development project at $ 30 million, and the healthcare and
population project at $ 30 million, and the bank will also give $ 30
million in "development policy to improve support aid".

In 2012, the bank will finance three projects including the basic
education improvement project at a cost of $ 40 million, the fourth
public works project at $ 40 million, and the project of improvement
of access to rural areas at $ 40 million.

In the fourth year, the bank will finance the water sector
improvement project at a cost of $ 90 million and the agricultural
development project at $ 30 million.

The strategy also revealed likely operations during the last years
of the aid that will need $ 125 million.

These operations may include a loan for development policies over
the financial sector at $ 30 million, the natural gas project at $
15 million, the project of safeguard of Ibb city from floods at $ 30
million, the power project at $ 40 million, and the Social Welfare
Fund project at $ 10 million.

The main goal of the aid, which comes within the WB country
assistance strategy, is to help Yemen meet the third Millennium
Development Goals.

According to the strategy, the aid must be in harmony with the goals
of the development plan for reducing poverty, and bound to them that
sustainable development is tied to progress in other areas including
accelerating economic development and diversifying its components,
and supporting the promotion of administrative system, social and
human development as well as management of limited natural resources
and risks.

The bank will also work to provide analysis and consultation
assistance to meet the goals.

FR