OFID’s Governing Board approves US$580m for operations in developing countries

Vienna, Austria, June 12, 2019. OFID – the OPEC Fund for International Development – has approved more than US$580 million of new funding to benefit developing countries across the globe. The 167th Session of OFID’s Governing Board approved the funding at the organization’s Vienna headquarters.

The public sector loans, amounting to US$387 million, will support the following projects:

Cuba: US$25m. West Havana Sanitation and Pluvial Drainage

To reduce environmental pollution and improve health indicators and living conditions, benefiting an estimated 73,000 people.    

Egypt: US$95m.  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) III

To help create around 33,000 job opportunities and boost self-employment through the extension of small loans to MSMEs and local banks, NGOs and microfinance institutions.    

Ghana: US$20m.  Eastern Corridor Development Program (Phase I)

To construct a 40 km road and repair a 24 km stretch to improve domestic / regional trade and stimulate economic development for circa 230,000 people.

Liberia: US$25m. Upgrading of Konia-Voinjama Road

To pave a 64 km road in northern Liberia, improving the transport of agricultural goods and increasing food security and incomes for around 43,000 people. 

Mozambique: US$36m. Temane Transmission Project (TREP / TTP)

To install a 563 km transmission system from Temane to the capital Maputo and upgrade / build sub-stations in southern Mozambique. 

Oman: US$130m.  Expressway Tunnels

To construct two expressway tunnels to improve connections between the north and eastern regions, enhance trade and provide efficient transport for around one million people.

Rwanda: US$20m.  Rwanda Sustainable Water Supply & Sanitation Program – Phase II

To construct eight water supply systems to serve 14 districts. Access is expected to rise from 30 to nearly 100 percent – improving living standards for approximately 5.4 million people.

Senegal: US$10m.  Support to Agricultural Development & Rural Entrepreneurship Program - Phase II (PADAER II)

To sustainably increase the food security and income of small crop and livestock producers and create jobs, especially for women and youth. Some 43,700 rural households are expected benefit directly. 

Sierra Leone: US$20m.  Education Sector Support

To reconstruct and rehabilitate four public secondary schools, a teacher training college and a polytechnic to ease overcrowding and accommodate rising enrolments.

Suriname: US$6m.  Health Facilities Improvement (Supplementary Loan)

To cover funding gaps related to a hospital in the capital Paramaribo and primary healthcare facilities across the country serving approximately 300,000 people/year.

US$157 million was approved under OFID’s private sector, comprising: two facilities totalling €65m (circa US$72m) to strengthen the energy sector in Côte d’Ivoire; US$50m to improve road transport in Kazakhstan; US$25m to support an agricultural group’s investment programs in developing countries (primarily in Africa); and US$10m in support of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Turkmenistan.

Under OFID’s Trade Finance Facility, US$25m was approved to support international trade activities in Armenia and US$15m to improve international trade opportunities in Costa Rica.