Coronavirus: World Bank grants $20 million to support Tunisia's pandemic fight

30 Avril 2020

Tunis, Tunisia, April 30 (Infosplusgabon) – The World Bank on Thursday approved a new US$20 million project to support Tunisia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on strengthening the health sector’s response capacity.

The new project, approved under the World Bank’s COVID-19 (coronavirus) fast track facility, complements an earlier allocation of US$15 million, which was made available in early April for emergency health expenditures by using funds from an existing project, the Irrigation Agriculture Intensification Project in Tunisia.

A World Bank statement said together, the US$35 million will provide the Ministry of Health with essential equipment and medical supplies to reinforce its COVID 19 response and prevention capacity.

The statement said the World Bank’s assistance to Tunisia during the COVID-19 crisis focuses on supporting the health ministry’s emergency efforts and the government’s broader social and economic measures, including strengthening social safety nets, helping small and medium-size enterprises, and creating the conditions for economic recovery.

Up to an additional US$100 million of the World Bank’s existing portfolio is being reallocated to finance additional social benefits and grants to small and medium-size enterprises.

"In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the World Bank Group is ramping up its support for Tunisia in this unprecedented period of crisis,” said Tony Verheijen, World Bank Tunisia Country Manager.

“We are currently working in close collaboration with the Tunisian government to support its health, social, and economic measures, using new and existing funds, to help the Tunisian people overcome this crisis and restart the economy on a strong footing.”

The World Bank Group, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response.

The Bank Group is increasing its support for disease surveillance, improved public health interventions, and help for the private sector to continue to operate and sustain jobs.

The statement said over the next 15 months, the World Bank Group will be deploying up to $160 billion in financial support to help countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery, including $50 billion of new IDA (International Development Association; part of the World Bank Group that supports the poorest countries) resources in grants or highly concessional terms.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/RTF/GABON2020

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