WASHINGTON, May 15, 2019 – The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has today approved an International Development Association (IDA)* credit of $100 million for Zambia to improve natural resource management in select districts.
Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD) project will support sustainable use of natural resources for livelihoods, and help the government of Zambia respond adequately and timely to a crisis or emergency.
The project will target 16 districts in three Provinces: Chifunabuli, Kawambwa, Lunga, Nchelenge, and Samfya (Luapula Province); Chama, Lavushimanda, Mpika, Mafinga, Isoka, and Kanchibiya (Muchinga Province); and Chilubi, Mbala, Mungwi, Mpulungu, and Nsama (Northern Province).
“The TRALARD project is very important for Zambia because its activities were designed with a view to reversing forest and land degradation and improve infrastructure to enhance the resilience of communities to climatic shocks,” said Ina Ruthenberg, World Bank Country Manager for Zambia.
About 562,800 people are estimated to benefit from TRALARD, and at least 50 percent of beneficiaries will be female-headed households. The main project beneficiaries reside in rural areas, the poorest and most vulnerable to climate change impacts
“The current impact of natural resource degradation on Zambia’s economy and livelihoods of its people is costing about 0.4 percent in annual economic growth and is projected to increase. We hope that the project play an integral part in Zambia’s effort to respond to climate change and to improve management of natural resources through donor supported efforts,” said Iretomiwa Olatunji, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project.
TRALARD project is aligned with the World Bank’s twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, and it is aligned with the government’s Seventh National Development Plan as well as the Zambia Country Partnership Framework (CPF, FY19-FY23).
The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 77 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 112 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $19 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent going to Africa.
