World Bank to finance four projects worth $495 million in Senegal – The Peninsula

World Bank to finance four projects worth $495 million in Senegal – The Peninsula

DAKAR: The World Bank said on Tuesday it has signed deals to finance four projects in Senegal worth a total of $495 million to help improve education, electricity, economic development and road access to rural areas.

The West African nation of around 16.7 million, considered lower-middle-income by the World Bank, was hit hard by border closures during the pandemic that affected tourism and delayed oil and gas extractions.

Most of the coastal country was struggling with unemployment even before the coronavirus hit, with jobs and industries concentrated in the capital Dakar and a few other cities.

The World Bank director for Senegal and neighbouring countries, Nathan Belete, announced what he described as a "record" funding in a statement.

A project to improve the quality of the education system will be awarded $100 million and benefit over 600,000 students, the bank said.

Another $45 million will fund a project to help develop the economy of the impoverished southern Casamance region, focusing on rural areas and including the construction infrastructure resistant to the impact of climate change.

The Bank also said that $150 million will be disbursed to improve electricity access across the country, connecting 200,000 households to the grid and improving power services in schools, health facilities,