The first Financing Agreement (US$ 150.00 million approximately Birr 2557.35 million) is to provide additional finance for the ongoing Urban Local Government Development Project for performance improvement in the planning, delivery, and sustained provision of priority municipal services and infrastructure by urban local governments. Nineteen cities comprising about 42 percent of Ethiopia’s urban population are receiving performance grants for infrastructure, and another 18 cities will receive capacity building support to prepare them for future investment financing. It was disclosed on the occasion that the Project will benefit 2.8 million citizens from better urban governance, infrastructure, and public services.  

The second Financing Agreement (US$ 60.00 million approximately Birr 1022.94 million) will be utilized in support of the government’s efforts to sustainably increase agricultural output and productivity in the Project area. This objective will be achieved by developing 20,000 ha of irrigation and related infrastructure (drainage and access roads) in North Gondar, Amhara Region (12, 000 ha at Ribb and 5000 ha at Megech ), providing support to the Government, and the project beneficiaries for agricultural and market development and for sustainable irrigation management. The Project will benefit 12, 000 households.  

H.E. Ato Sufian Ahmed, Minister of MoFED, and Mr. Greg Toulmin, World Bank, Acting Country Director for Ethiopia signed the agreements on behalf of the Ethiopian Government and the World Bank respectively.