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From March 18-19, Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs John Taylor led a combined USG-World Bank delegation on a tour of World bank funded projects in Niger. The focus of the trip was to assess and evaluate the use of IDA grants versus credits for development projects in the area of health, education, community development and HIV/AIDS. Taylor and other members of the treasury delegation met with Niger Finance Minister Ali Zeine, Prime Minister Hama Amadou, and President Mamadou Tandja. In each meeting Taylor reiterated USG support for Niger's reaching its Enhanced HIPC Initiative Completion Point. Taylor also delivered the message that the use of IDA grants versus credits is an initiative of the Bush Administration that will have the effect of helping developing nations such as Niger maintain sustainable debt loads in the future. In an address to business community leaders and high level policy makers, Taylor elaborated an his vision of public policy for private sector growth.
From March 18-19, Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs John Taylor led a combined USG-World Bank delegation on a tour of World bank projects sites funded in full or in part with IDA grants. In addition to the U/S Taylor, the Treasury delegation consisted of Robert Pittman, DAS for International Affairs, and Savatore Fratto, DAS for Public Affairs. The World Bank delegation consisted of Carole Brookins, U.S. Executive Director, James Adams, VP for Network Operations, Policies and Country Services; and Nils Tcheyan, VP for Africa. Niger was the final stop for the combined delegation on a three nation tour that included Kenya and Rwanda.
Site visits
The site visits began in the village of Kohan Garanche where six projects were carried out under the Natural Resources Management project, financed entirely through IDA credits. The first site visited was a riverbank stabilization project where gabion nets (roks enclosed in wire mesh) were used to prevent erosion which threatened the village during the rainy season. The delegation next visited a women’s center where villagers learn skills to enhance self-sufficiency through income-generating activities, such as sewing. As part of the visit , the facility was re-named the John Taylor Women’s enter. The delegation next visited an adult literacy project, a grain mill, a village well, and a cereal bank.
In the city of Say, the delegation saw a presentation on a savings and loan association, that grew out of the Natural Resources project to help meet the small-scale financial needs of the rural population.
As part of the same Natural Resources Management Project, the delegation also visited a clinic in the village of Tchinchibou. Lacking medical supplies, equipment and a refrigerator to store vaccines, this project highlighted the necessity of quick disbursement of IDA funds to ensure the viability of projects.
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