The World Bank (WB) signed on Monday 24th January, 2022 a 150,000,000 agreement to finance the project cash for jobs, in its second phase targeting the most vulnerable nationwide.
In a bid to boost economic growth as well as reduce poverty by improving human capital and promoting social inclusion, the WB granted to the government of Burundi USD 150million to finance the extension of project Cash for Jobs aptly named social safety nets Merenkabandi (translated as I can be like others in English).
The grant’s terms and conditions were undersigned by the Minister of Finance Domitien Ndihokubwayo and the WB’s country’s manager Veronique Kabongo.
“The funding will enable the extension of the social safety nets nationwide to acutely vulnerable households”, said Veronique Kabongo.
It will, in addition, avail income generating activities that facilitate improved access to employment, expansion of social protection benefits, and integration of refugees and host communities into national social protection systems, added Kabongo.
The world Bank country’s manager said that the Cash for Jobs Project will be extended countrywide targeting 145 households which aggregates an average of one million of vulnerable.
The project was first initiated in July 2017, to date more than 56,000 households have benefited from the support of MERANKABANDI in its area of implementation in four provinces which are Gitega, Karusi, Ruyigi and Kirundo.
In Ruyigi province, there are 13,515 beneficiaries in the communes of Butaganzwa 2, Butezi, Bweru and Gisuru. In the province of Gitega, there are 13,786 beneficiaries in the communes of Gitega, Buraza, Bugendana and Itaba.
In Karusi province, 14,458 beneficiaries were registered in Gihogazi, Mutumba, Nyabikere and Bugenyuzi communes. In the province of Kirundo, there are 14,331 beneficiaries in the communes of Kirundo, Busoni, Bugabira and Ntega.
Each selected household received cash transfers of BIF 40,000 (around $20) every two months for 30 months manly for women’s owned livestock and tontines projects.
After the signature, the Minister of Finance Domitien Ndihokubwayo stress out his gratitude on the behalf of the government of Burundi to the World Bank for its commitment to accost Burundi in its development policy through the attainment of this project.
