Announcement of IDA Provides Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars for Technical Assistance to Sierra Leone on December 28, 1979

· FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- . ~VorldBank :: 818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. W433;· US.A.• Teiephone: (202) 477-1234 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 80/20 December 28, 1979 tDA PROVIDES $2.5 MILLlON FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SIERRA LEONE The International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank 1 s affiliate for concessionary lending, announced today the approval of a $2.5 million credit for a technical assistance project in Sierra Leone. The project aims, over a two-year period, at strengthening the government's capability in development planning, preparation of develop- ment projects, training of local staff, and monitoring and evaluation of public investment programs. It provides for five advisers for two years each; consultants in • several ministries: Works, Education, Health, Mines, Development and Economic Planning, and the Central Statistical Office, among others; and training, principally through participation of local personnel in task forces with advisers and consultants, and by means of in-country seminars in project planning, preparation, and implementation. About $650,000 of the credit is allocated for project preparation and pre- feasibility studies to help Sierra Leone build up its pipeline of de- velopment projects. Each ministry concerned will be responsible for the implementation of its component of the project and will provide counterpart staff to the international advisers. Coordination between sectoral and central activities will be carried out by the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning. (Address: Development Secretary, Ministry of Development and Economic Planning, Freetown, Sierra Leone). As a result of the project, Sierra Leone should be able to formulate more realistic and sound public policies and programs. The preparation and implementation of priority development projects will be improved and the evaluation and monitoring system will be strengthened. Through the training activities, the project will assist in developing self-reliance among government staff in managing the sectoral planning units when the foreign advisers leave. The project is also designed to encourage smoother and greater cooperation between different ministries. The $2.5 million IDA credit to Sierra Leone is for 50 years, with 10 • years of grace. It carries no interest exceot for a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover administrative costs. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.