The World Bank Group has announced a conditional non-debarment of Stichting Cordaid, a charitable foundation from the Netherlands, for 18 months. This decision is related to fraudulent practices connected to the Central African Republic Health Systems Support Project.
The project was designed to enhance maternal and child health services in rural areas and provide emergency health services to the general population. According to the World Bank, Stichting Cordaid falsely represented that subsidy payments to a health center met project criteria despite changes in the facility's operator, constituting fraud under the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Framework.
Stichting Cordaid will remain eligible for participation in projects financed by the World Bank Group if it adheres to its settlement obligations. The foundation has not contested its culpability and agreed to implement integrity compliance measures based on principles outlined in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
Furthermore, Stichting Cordaid has committed to ongoing cooperation with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency. The agreement also considers Stichting Cordaid’s cooperation and voluntary remedial actions by reducing its conditional non-debarment period.