World Bank Resumes Aid to Afghanistan... "Targeting Civil Sectors Outside Taliban Control"

by Seo Miteum

Published 17 Feb.2024 16:21(KST)

Updated 17 Feb.2024 16:25(KST)

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400 Billion KRW Support Provided Over 15 Months

The World Bank has decided to resume support for Afghanistan, which was suspended two years ago following the Taliban's return to power. The support will be limited to the civilian sector outside the control of the Taliban authorities.

Used Shoe Store in Kabul, the Capital of Afghanistan

According to major foreign media on the 17th (local time), the World Bank held a board meeting on the 15th and approved a new Afghanistan support approach named 'Approach 3.0.' In August 2021, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops withdrew from Afghanistan, and with the Taliban's return to power, infrastructure projects that had been suspended are expected to resume.

The World Bank explained in a statement that its International Development Association (IDA), with board approval, will provide approximately $300 million (about 400 billion KRW) in grants over the next 15 months through UN agencies and others.

Additionally, the support will focus on women at the center of the projects, enabling them to actively lead project activities. Currently, in Afghanistan, following the Taliban's return to power, women's rights are reported to be severely restricted due to the strict application of Islamic law. For this reason, many foreign governments and international organizations have significantly reduced their financial support.

The board also approved the resumption of a clean energy project involving Afghanistan and its neighboring countries Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan. This project, linked among Afghanistan and the three surrounding countries, was resumed at the request of the neighboring countries, which are in the project completion phase. The project is valued at a total of $1.2 billion (about 1.6 trillion KRW).