In brief
- Somaliland Standard reported on 31 August 2019 that the African Development Bank Group signed grants worth $28.8 million for road and water supply projects in Somalia on 27 August 2019.
- The package includes $11.99 million for the Kismayo Baidoa urban water project and $16.86 million to partly finance a $66.7 million road rehabilitation.
- The report does not confirm that the projects have launched or progressed since the signing; the bank planned a mid-September launch.
The African Development Bank Group signed two grants totalling $28.8 million for road and water supply projects in Somalia on 27 August 2019, according to a report published by Somaliland Standard on 31 August 2019.
The grants, approved by the Bank's Board on 19 July 2019, comprise $11.99 million for the Kismayo Baidoa urban water project and $16.86 million to partly finance a $66.7 million road, the report said. Somalia's deputy finance minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ali signed for his country, and Nnenna Nwabufo, deputy director general for East Africa, signed for the Bank Group. Present at the event were Somali ministers for public works, housing and reconstruction, and energy and water resources; representatives from South West and Jubbaland states; and the International Organisation for Migration.
The road project will rehabilitate 355 kilometres of regional road networks and provide assistance to improve the capacities of public agencies, according to the report. The Kismayo Baidoa urban water supply project will increase access to safe water and improve sanitation and water delivery services in Kismayo in Jubbaland state and Baidoa in South West state.
The two projects will be implemented within the framework of the multi-Partner Somalia infrastructure fund managed by the Bank, and are consistent with the key objectives of Somalia's National Development Plan, the report said. The Bank's total approved and ongoing portfolio in Somalia is about $143.7 million, spanning governance, institutional support, capacity building, agriculture, transport, and social sectors.
At the signing, Nwabufo said the Bank planned to launch the two projects in mid-September, according to Somaliland Standard. The report, dated 31 August 2019, does not establish whether the projects have actually been launched or progressed since then. It also does not include details on implementing entities, procurement status, or whether the road project's remaining financing has been secured.
Frequently asked questions
Which specific road and water projects are covered by the grant?
The $28.8 million total comprises $11.99 million for the Kismayo Baidoa urban water project and $16.86 million to partly finance a road project with a total cost of $66.7 million that will rehabilitate 355 km of regional road networks.
What are the procurement procedures and timelines?
The report says the Bank planned to launch the two projects in mid-September, but it does not provide details on procurement procedures or confirm that the launch took place.
What oversight mechanisms are in place?
The projects will be implemented within the framework of the multi-Partner Somalia infrastructure fund managed by the Bank, according to the report. No further oversight details are given.