WB VP vows continued support for Afghanistan

KABUL, promising continued support to the Afghan people.

Appointed on July 1, Schafer has visited Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan is the first country in the region Schafer has visited after he took charge.

During his three-day stay in Kabul, he met President Ashraf Ghani, his CEO Abdullah, Finance Minister Mohammad Hamayoun Qayoumi and other government officials.

He held discussions about Afghanistan development challenges and opportunities with representatives from NGOs, the women community, private sector and international partners.

“I am delighted to visit Afghanistan and see first-hand how the WB is helping the government serve Afghan people in areas such as health, water supply and sanitation, and institutional reforms,” said Schafer.

Despite prevailing security challenges compounded by capacity constraints, he noted progress across all sectors and commended the government for implementing key policy reforms.

The WB group programme in Afghanistan is currently governed by its country partnership framework for fiscal year 2017-20. The WB administers the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF).

Together, ARTF and the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s fund for the poorest countries, provide more than $1 billion a year in grants ($250 million from IDA and about $800-$900 million from the ARTF).

Additionally, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the largest global development institution focused on the private sector development, has committed a total of $54.5 million to Afghanistan.

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