The World Bank has approved three operations totaling $1.57 billion to aid Nigeria in enhancing health outcomes, dam safety, and irrigation services. The financing includes $500 million for the HOPE-GOV program, $570 million for the Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Program (HOPE-PHC), and $500 million for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN).
The HOPE-GOV and HOPE-PHC programs aim to improve service delivery in basic education and primary healthcare sectors, which are essential for advancing Nigeria’s human capital outcomes. The SPIN project will focus on improving dam safety and managing water resources for hydropower and irrigation in selected areas of Nigeria.
The HOPE-GOV Program targets governance weaknesses in government systems related to financial and human resource management in basic education and primary healthcare sectors. It aims to enhance transparency, accountability, recruitment, deployment, and performance management of teachers and healthcare workers at federal, state, and local levels.
Under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the HOPE-PHC project seeks to improve core reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition services. This initiative is expected to reduce maternal and under-five mortality rates while strengthening the health system's resilience. The project is funded by a concessional $500 million International Development Association (IDA) credit along with a $70 million grant from the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF). Contributions include $11 million from the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and $12.5 million from the Children’s Investment Foundation Fund (CIFF).
The SPIN Program aims to protect citizens from floods and droughts through improved dam safety measures. It also plans to provide new or enhanced irrigation services over 40,000 hectares benefiting up to 950,000 people including households, farmers, and livestock breeders by increasing agricultural productivity through better water management.
Dr. Ndiamé Diop of the World Bank commented: “Effective investment in the health and education of Nigerians today is central to increasing their future employment opportunities... This new financing for human capital...will help address complex difficulties faced by Nigerians especially women...”
“The SPIN program is timely...protecting Nigerians from floods...while enabling an increase in hydropower generation,” Dr. Diop added.
*The International Development Association (IDA) is a fund established by the World Bank in 1960 that provides grants and low-interest loans aimed at economic growth reduction of poverty across 76 countries.*