KABUL, 12 December, 2020, (TON): The World Bank Board of Executive Directors on Saturday approved two grants totaling nearly $85 million from the International Development Association (IDA), as part of a $393 million financial package to help Afghanistan alleviate COVID-19 impacts and improve access to clean water, sanitation, and public services.

The grants are part of Two financial packages, this includes aid from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, managed by the world bank on behalf of 34 donors, grant comprise $50 million from IDA for Water, Sanitation Hygiene and Institutional support A-Wash project, the grand will total $200 million, that includes 150-million-dollars from ARTF.

 The project will bring improvement to water access and quality of water supply in Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat, it will also build up the capacity of Afghanistan Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Corporation to deliver sustainable services and contribute to efforts for managing the pandemic and other disasters.

“Access to clean water, hygiene, and basic services is essential to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, including COVID-19,” said Henry Kerali, World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan.

$35 million of funds are for the second additional financing of the Citizen’s Charter Afghanistan Project, according to the statement the grant will total 193-million-dollars, including $158 from ARTF.

The target of the project is to improve the delivery of core infrastructure, emergency support, and social services to strengthened Community Development Councils, under the second additional financing, the Citizens’ Charter Project will improve and expand its service delivery to 10 cities across Afghanistan.

And continue to respond to the pandemic crisis in the communities, provide critical assistance to Kuchi communities, increase employment, initiate peace pilots in rural and urban areas, and build gender equality.