INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The World Bank has resumed work on three projects in Afghanistan focused on health, agriculture and livelihoods, but will maintain a hold on
some $150 million for education projects, two sources familiar with the decision said Tuesday.The multilateral development bank had put all
four projects, valued at around $600 million, on hold in late March, citing its deep concerns over the Islamic Emirate&s ban on girls
attending public high school.Group of Seven partners and other major donors to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) will meet to
discuss the country&s mounting economic and food security problems on Friday during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund
and the World Bank, the United States Treasury announced on Monday.Some multilateral organizations, including the IMF, the United Nations
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Islamic Development Bank, will also take part, one of the sources said.When it halted work
on the four programs, the World Bank noted that its policies required all ARTF-financed activities to support access to & and equity of
services for & women and girls in Afghanistan.Officials decided to &resume preparations& for the three non-education projects, valued at
around $450 million, given the deepening economic crisis in Afghanistan worsened by rising food and energy prices triggered by Russia&s war
in Ukraine, one of the sources said.Russia calls its actions &a special military operation.The World Bank last week issued a dire outlook
for Afghanistan&s economy, noting that per capita income had fallen by over a third in the last four months of 2021 following the seizure of
power by the Islamic Emirate (IE) as United States -led foreign forces withdrew.It said around 37% of Afghan households did not have enough
money to cover food while 33% could afford food but nothing more.When it agreed to free up ARTF funds for new projects to be implemented by
agencies, the World Bank had stipulated that it expected a &strong focus on ensuring that girls and women participate and benefit from the
support.The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has unraveled gains in rights made by women during the last two decades, including
restricting them from working and limiting their travel unless accompanied by a close male relative
Most girls were also barred from going to public school beyond seventh grade.The post World Bank to push ahead with some Afghan projects
first appeared on Ariana News.
