Tanzania
Tanzania and the World Bank Group World Bank portfolio Tanzania joined the World Bank Group in 1962 and received its first credit, from IDA, in 1963. More than $6.2 billion in credits and $274 million in grants had been approved as of February 2009. As of that month, the Tanzania portfolio represented a total commitment of $2 billion, with 23 active projects in all major sectors. Due to its gross national income per capita being below a specified threshold, Tanzania is eligible for lending via the IDA, the World Bank Group’s interest-free lending arm serving 78 low-income countries. The largest share (30 percent) of IDA support to Tanzania goes to the infrastructure and energy sectors. In fiscal year 2008, Tanzania was the seventh-largest IDA borrower, with receipts of $498.5 million. In May 2008, World Bank approved two projects in Tanzania: the Science and Technology Higher Education program, aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of key higher education agencies, and the Second Central Transport Corridor Project, which seeks to improve the reliability and cost effectiveness of transport facilities. Table 11 provides a snapshot of the type and value of projects
Table 11: New projects in Tanzania supported by the IDA, fiscal 2008–mid-fiscal 2009
Project name and description
Date of approval
$ millions
The Sixth Poverty Reduction Support Credit aims to sustain a high level of economic growth and the expansion of basic services delivery by the Tanzanian government.
10/21/08
160
Science and Technology Higher Education Program (Phase 1) aims to provide a conducive learning environment so as to increase the quality and quantity of higher education graduates in the field of science and technology.
05/27/08
100
Second Central Transport Corridor Project will support economic growth by providing improved, cost-effective transport facilities in line with national transport policy and strategy.
05/27/08
190
Energy Development and Access Expansion Project will help provide better-quality electricity service in areas of Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Kilimanjaro, and also aims to devise a sustainable basis for electricity expansion (amount includes $6.5 million from the Global Environmental Facility).
12/12/07
111.5
Performance Results and Accountability Project will enhance capacity, performance, and accountability of ministries, departments, and agencies using public resources and service delivery.
09/27/07
40
Lower Kihansi Environmental Management Project II (supplemental) will reduce the threat of downstream habitat loss resulting from the Kihansi Hydropower Project.
09/27/07
3.5
Health Sector Development II Scale-Up will support the continuation of improvements to the health-care system at hospital, district, regional, and national levels.
07/05/07
60
Note: Fiscal years 2008 and 2009 represent the period from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2009.
World Bank Country Brief: Tanzania 33