By Judith Ugwumadu | 9 February 2015

Bangladesh is to receive a $300m loan from the World Bank’s International Development Association to improve child nutrition in the country’s poorest areas, it has been announced today. 

The funding will boost the bank’s Income Support Program for the Poorest in the country.

This scheme is intended to help 600,000 of the poorest mothers and pregnant women to improve the nutrition of young children as – despite Bangladesh’s record of reducing child mortality – it remains in the global top ten for infant malnutrition.

The expanded project will cover 42 of the poorest councils in northern Bangladesh that lag behind on nutrition indictors, the bank said, and is also intended to improve local government’s delivery of welfare programs by setting up teams to identify and enrol beneficiaries and ensure timely payments. 

‘Well designed safety nets can improve child health and nutrition outcomes, while contributing to reduction of poverty and inequality,’ said Mohammad Mejbahuddin, a senior secretary in Bangladesh’s finance department.

‘The project is a good example of involving local government bodies as well as using technological innovation to improve service delivery in Bangladesh.’

The loan is for 28 years and has a service charge of 0.75%, as well as a 6-year grace period.