African Development Fund approves over €156 million for upgrase of cross-border roads connecting Burkina Faso and Mali with Côte d’Ivoire
African Development Fund Board of Directors (https://apo-opa.co/4f9eBTb) on November 29 approved loans totaling 156.66 million euros to Burkina Faso and Mali to upgrade and lay asphalt cross-border roads connecting the two landlocked West African countries with Côte d’Ivoire.
The two countries will make use of the World Bank Group’s preferential windows and transition support funds (https://apo-opa.co/4f9eCGJ), a mechanism designed to provide additional preferential resources to eligible countries facing fragile and conflict situations. The Islamic Development Bank and the European Union are also providing co-financing of €138 million and €25 million respectively for the project.
For Burkina Faso, the funds will be used to upgrade and strengthen the 155-kilometre Bobo-Dioulasso-Banfora-Ivory Coast border road, as well as the construction of the 42-kilometre Banfora-Orodala section. It will also see the 100-meter-long bridge across the Leraba River, which connects Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, modernized and divided into two lanes. In addition, 18 kilometers of urban roads and 50 kilometers of rural roads will be constructed in secondary towns through which main roads pass, to stimulate local economies and protect communities from the effects of climate change.
As for Mali, the World Bank Group’s support of 73.73 million euros is mainly used for the upgrade and asphalt paving of the Buguni-Gallaro section of the Buguni-Gallallo-Manankoro-Côte d’Ivoire border road. This section of road is 45 kilometers long.
The plan will be implemented over six years (2024-2030).
As landlocked countries, Burkina Faso and Mali rely heavily on land corridors for international trade that connect them to seaports in neighboring coastal countries. The Abidjan-Bobo Dioulasso-Ouagadougou and Bamako-Man-San Pedro corridors give the two countries access to the Ivorian ports of Abidjan and San Pedro.
The project will improve national and regional transport logistics chains, thereby stimulating intra-regional trade. More specifically, it will improve service levels on the Bobo-Dioulasso-Banfora-Côte d’Ivoire border community road, including the Banfora-Orodara and Buguni-Manankoro-Côte d’Ivoire border sections, ensuring that all All areas can cross the Leeraba River. climate conditions, improve corridor performance by reducing non-tariff barriers, reducing red tape and transit times, and increasing access to basic social and community services.
The scheme is designed using an integrated, multi-faceted approach based on regional integration/value chains/peace relations to maximize its impact on economic competitiveness and will incorporate various relevant developments to provide socio-economic infrastructure to the cities , to enhance the resilience of the beneficiary groups. It will also support the implementation of community decisions on transport facilitation, improve the provision of affordable transport, increase trade volumes within both corridors, strengthen local and regional economic activity through job creation, and transform local and town roads through economic hubs , which is conducive to unleashing the rich economic potential of the project area.
The project’s direct impact area is a large agricultural and pastoral area that combines agriculture and animal husbandry, with a population of 4.51 million, accounting for 6.28% of the total population of the three countries.
It is home to large industrial units and small semi-industrial agro-processing units. As global warming and the Sahel’s climate become increasingly arid, the region is currently attracting livestock farmers and agropastoralists seeking more favorable climatic and ecological conditions.
Tourism also plays a vital role in the local economy. In addition, mining activities are expanding in the region, with industrial (lithium, gold, etc.) and small-scale mines currently under construction.
“The African Development Bank Group is an important partner in financing the transport sector in Burkina Faso and Mali,” said Lamine Barrow, Director General of the African Development Bank for West Africa. “The construction of regional road infrastructure to community standards, coupled with the development of urban and rural roads, combined with training and the provision of production and processing equipment and tools, will help to further deepen the value chain in the transportation sector and promote development through the entire chain. agricultural and animal resources to promote economic development.”
He added: “Strengthening the capabilities of young people, women, training centers and trade facilities and making them operational will help increase productivity, process products and gain market access for these products, while helping to eradicate poverty. ”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contact information:
Romanik
Department of Communications and External Relations
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About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is the premier multilateral financing institution dedicated to Africa’s development. It consists of three different entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NSF). The African Development Bank has field presence in 44 African countries and an external office in Japan, contributing to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information: African Development Bank website
