The World Bank has authorized a USD 450 million aid facility to Tanzania lifting an aid embargo it had imposed on the country over hostile government policies.
The global financial institution had expressed reservations over Tanzania’s harsh government policies which had seen the country’s government denied financial injections since 2018.
One of such policies includes the proscription of any inquiry on official statistics and expulsion of pregnant girls from schools.
The World Bank has, however, come out to state that the new development owes largely to the efforts by Magufulis government to address the policy issues.
According to reports, Tanzania’s statistics agency in Juky had noted that it could review its economic growth figure (7%) for 2018 after the World Bank came up with a significantly lower one of 5%.
The World Bank’s credit will benefit an estimated 5 million Tanzanians.
Bella Bird, the World Bank’s country director said, “Approval of this project acknowledges efforts by the government of Tanzania to address the policy issues by amending the statistics law (2018) in line with international practice, as well as the government’s commitment to facilitate all girls to complete their education.”
Bella Bird, the World Bank’s country director for Tanzania. said that the new support will be critical to improve the lives of many more people in need and overall raise the country’s human capital index, which is still very low at 0.40.
She said, “We will continue to work with the government and engage with citizens and other stakeholders on the complex set of development issues facing the country and its people.”
