World Bank funded projects in refugee host districts taking root

The World Bank says social and economic projects it is funding in the West Nile region aimed at improving the living and working conditions within refugee districts are bearing fruit.

Under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Programme USMID – AF, the World Bank is facilitating the construction of markets, community resource centres, sports facilities and road in 11 refugee host districts

The initiative is valued at a tune of $60 Million dollars in refugee hosting communities.

The team led by Stephen Ajalu, the Senior Urban Specialist at the World Bank said they wanted to look at whether they were able to implement all the ongoing projects before their closure next year December 31st and the other one was to look at fiduciary; financial and procurement management.

He noted that key issues had arisen including the challenge of swept funds and delays of payments arising from the swept funds.

The other one was to look at the safe guards management which is always critical because they take due consideration of environment and social issues so that they do not create impacts which affect people negatively.

The last was to ensure that they do not have challenges which affect the implementation of the project and if they are there, how do to overcome them.

Stephen Ajalu, also noted that the implementing refuge host districts ought to complete the projects within the agree time frame and up to standard.

"There were some initial challenges including the interruptions linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic.But we are glad that in this review exercise, most of the districts are progressing well with the implementation of the projects chosen,” Ajalu, noted.

The interventions in the refugee hosting districts are designed to ensure interrelation between the sub components of systematic land adjudication and certification in order to strengthen land rights.

Rapid physical planning assessment in order to ensure physical planning services strengthen service deliver and promote planned settlements in the refugee and host communities.

And infrastructure development which is aimed at rehabilitating and construction infrastructure investments that promote easy mobility and access of services by both the host communities and refugees.