World Bank To Reopen Chad Office

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The World Bank has decided to partially reopen its office in the central African nation of Chad to enable close supervision of its portfolio of projects directly benefiting the poor in Chad. The Bank closed its offices last year due to rebel conflict.

The partial reopening, which takes effect this month, will further facilitate dialogue with authorities and stakeholders towards an inclusive development program that would be key to overcoming poverty, assisting displaced people, and improving education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and rural development and governance, a World Bank press statement on Monday.

The World Bank office closed its offices in Chad on Feb.1, 2008 due to the rebel conflict.

The office remained closed as the Bank ended its engagement in the petroleum pipeline project because the project was not implemented in the manner designed to deliver substantial benefits for the poor.

In Sept. 2008, at the request of the World Bank, Chad fully prepaid both IBRD and IDA for pipeline related financing, according to the statement.