World Bank Approves $1.57 Billion for Nigeria’s Health and Climate Change Programs

The World Bank has approved three new operations totaling $1.57 billion to support Nigeria's human capital development, focusing on improving health for women, children, and adolescents, and addressing the effects of climate change through improved irrigation and dam safety.

The funds are divided into three key projects:

• $500 million for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN),
• $570 million for the Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Program (HOPE-PHC), and
• $500 million for the HOPE-GOV project, which addresses governance challenges in delivering health and education services.

The HOPE-PHC project, financed under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, will focus on improving the quality and accessibility of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition services. The project aims to reduce maternal and child mortality while strengthening the health system's resilience, benefitting 40 million people, particularly vulnerable populations. This project aligns with the Federal Government’s recently announced health sector reforms.

The funding includes a $500 million concessional credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and an additional $70 million grant from the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF).

Dr. Ndiamé Diop, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating that improving health and education will enhance employment opportunities, productivity, and earnings for Nigerians while reducing poverty, especially among women and girls. He stressed that the HOPE-PHC project aims to address not only access and service quality but also the governance issues that affect the delivery of these services.

Regarding the SPIN project, Diop highlighted its timeliness, as it will protect Nigerians from floods and droughts in vulnerable areas while also increasing hydropower generation. He added that the project's positive impact on livelihoods will be significant, with the World Bank working closely with the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to deliver on these objectives.