By Vivienne Russell | 29 April 2014
The World Bank has released emergency funds to restore public financial management systems to the Central African Republic following the outbreak of violence that overwhelmed the country last year.
Assistance totalling $30m has been released by the International Development Association, the bank’s aid arm, and will support its Emergency Public Services Response Project.
This fourth tranche of World Bank funding will help restore government services to CAR’s 4.5 million people. In particular, it will provide technical assistance to re-establish an operational government payroll, revenue collection and basic expenditure management.
As well as the resumption of some public services, salary payments to around 20,000 CAR civil servants will resume as a result of the planned payroll improvements. It is hoped the effects will be more far-reaching as the money paid to them flows out into the wider economy, boosting demand and trade flows.
Gregor Blinkert, World Bank country director for CAR, said: ‘By focusing on technical assistance and payroll improvements in the ministries of finance and civil service, the funds will help restore much-needed services and will benefit many people living in poverty, including children who would be able to go to school and patients who could be treated in government hospitals and clinics.’
Ousmane Kolie, World Bank task team leader for this project, added: ‘The Emergency Public Services Response Project will lay the groundwork for future operations supporting public financial management and public administration reforms in CAR, and will start the process of boosting the country’s stalled economy and creating jobs for the poor.’
The former French colony has endured decades of instability and is one of the least developed countries in the world. In March last year, a government coup triggered widespread ethno-religious violence and humanitarian crisis affecting the whole population.
Outbreaks of violence continue to plague the country. Yesterday, 22 people, including three aid workers, were killed in a rebel attack on a clinic in CAR’s northern region.
