Afghanistan – Rural Enterprise Development Project

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2010 - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:

 

IDA Grant: US$30 million

Project ID: P110407

 

Project Description: The project will enhance participation of the rural poor in economic activities by providing business development services, improving their access to finance, and strengthening market linkages and value chains. The project will support the establishment of 13,000 Savings Groups, 6,500 Enterprise Groups (EGs) and 1,300 Village and Savings Loan Associations. The EGs will help maximize the economic potential of rural entrepreneurs to improve market access, deliver technical knowledge, raise basic business skills and leverage economies of scale to increase the value of their sales. The project will also work with  around 750 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are likely to be key drivers of rural employment. It will support SMEs in building necessary skills, promoting market development and particularly encouraging business linkages  into the rural economy.

 

Media Contact

Erik Nora

(202) 458-4735

enora@worldbank.org

For more project information, please visit: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000104615_20090826165737