World Bank officials visit Jonglei to check progress of projects

By John Actually

February 20, 2011 (BOR) – World Bank officials led by Laurence Clarke, the manager of their South Sudan programs in Juba visited Jonglei state capital Bor from February 18 to 19 to meet government officials to review the progress of their projects.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Clarke said the World Bank has funded a number of projects in Jonglei, including school building projects, a health center at Makuach payam (district) and new hospital projects in Bor, as well as women’s and agricultural projects.

Asked to account for the progress of the projects, Clarke said the physical work is either completed or at an advanced stage. However, he noted that some bottlenecks had occurred due to issues of cash flow from Juba to the state contributing to delay of projects completion has to be dealt with once he goes back to Juba.

“In general I am satisfied with what I have seen in terms of the physical work in the livestock sector and medical health sector but there is some work to be done to complete the work”, said Clarke.

Clarke explained the important role played by World Bank and Multi-Donor Trust Fund in agricultural sectors in Jonglei, saying farmers’ organizations get seeds and tactical support from the World Bank to improve agricultural production and yields. He also mentioned that World Bank is providing livestock medicines and laboratory equipment to keep animals healthy.

According to Clarke, lack of capacity in the government, weak procedures, inability to transfer funds and insecurity remains the main challenges facing the World Bank’s activities in South Sudan.

(ST)