Announcement of IDA Provides Five Million Dollars Credit for Technical Assistance to Zambia on December 22, 1978

- . FOR "IMMEDIATE RELEASE . .., · • 1818 H Street, N.W.: Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 IDA NEWS ~ELEASE WO. 79/38 December 22, 1978 JOA PROVIDES $5 MILLION CREDIT FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ZAMBIA The Jnternation.a1 Oevelopment Association, the World Bank's soft-loan affiljate, today approved a $5 million credit for a technical assistance project in 2ambia. The project will help the Government of Zambia achieve the project and investment targets s~t o~t •n its Thifd Development:Plan (1979-83)~ It will provide long-term expert services to the National Commission for Development Planning 1 key operat;onal ministries, and other governmental agencies. Consultant services wili be made available for feasibility studies, project preparation, design, supervision, and implementation of high-priority projects. The project also provides for training of local staff to plan, • prepare, and implement projects in future years, and thus will help to overcome a critical national skill shortage . Through the project, Zambia w?ll be able to prepare and implement projects in productive sectors--such as agriculture and indu5try~-thereby enabljng the government to diversify the economy and re,:iuc:e its dependence on the mtning sector, which account~~ for 21% of the gross domestic product and 90% of exports in 1977. The project will also enable the government to make better use of assistance available for projects from other external sources. The IDA credit to Zambia is for 50 years, including a grace period of 10 years. It is interest free, but carries a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover JDA's administrative expenses. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents . • FOAM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E C HN I CA L DA T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Technical Assistance Republic of Zambia $5.6 million • I DA FI NANC I MG : $5 million, standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: Government of Zambia IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: National Commission for Development Planning Old Bank of Zambia Building Cairo Road Lusaka, Zambia PROJECT DESCRIPTION: It will assist the government in project planning and preparation by providing (i) about 35 man-years of long-term expert services to th.~ Project Preparation Unit, in the National Commis- sion for Development Planning, operational ministries, and other government agen- cies; (ii) about 35 man-years in consultant services to undertake feasibility studies, design work, implementation, and other project-related activities; and • (iii) training for local staff, and funds for equipment, vehicles, supplies, and operating costs. PROCU.REMENT: Contracts for purchases of goods w? 11 be let on the basis of competitive bidding advertised locally, in accordance with local procedures acceptable to the Association. The government will be responsible for recruitment and employment of long-term experts on terms and conditions acceptable to the Association. CONSULTANTS: The project will finance 35 man-years in medium- and short-term consultant services to be identified during the course of project implementation. The consultants will help to draw up detailed preparation plans for apecific projects, undertake feasibility studies, prepare tenders, and assist with project su~ervision and implementation . ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: n.a. 1983 - 0 - •