Wednesday 4 April 2007 09:41 AM CET

The World Bank Board of Directors approved an International Development Association (IDA) financing package of USD 164.5 million for Kenya, Burundi and Madagascar as the first tranche of the USD 424 million Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP) for high-speed internet connectivity in East and Southern Africa.

The region is being held back by the prohibitive costs of international connectivity. Businesses are unable to compete in the global economy; university students suffer because they cannot access the Internet; and Government agencies cannot communicate effectively with each other and their citizens because they are not connected.

The Board of Directors responded to the appeal and governments' requests for assistance by unanimously endorsing RCIP, which will bring affordable high speed connectivity to as many as 25 countries in East and Southern Africa. The USD 164.5 million first tranche of funding consists of IDA credits in the amount of USD 114.4 million to Kenya and USD 30 million to Madagascar, and an IDA grant in the amount of USD 20.1 million to Burundi.

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