World Bank Approves Shift to Channel IDA Funds to Afg Humanitarian Aid

The shift marks the first time that the World Bank’s own funds would be sent to Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in August 2021

The development lender said the funds would remain outside the control of the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan and would complement Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund (ARTF) donor financing in supporting critical basic services such as food, water, health, education and jobs.

The shift marks the first time that the World Bank’s own funds would be sent to Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

Since then, the ARTF has channeled $1.5 billion in donor aid through partner organizations to benefit some 25 million Afghans.

The IDA fund disburses grants and highly concessional loans to the world’s poorest countries, and its resources are replenished every few years by donor countries, with the current $93 billion replenishment set to conclude in 2025.

World Bank President Ajay Banga has called for the next IDA replenishment round to set a new record as demands for its funding grows.

The World Bank said its new “Approach 3.0” to Afghanistan aims to deliver basic services at scale, including supporting employment opportunities through the microfinancing of income-generating activities, and facilitating private-sector participation in the delivery of aid.

The bank said it was continuing its previous ARTF principles of putting women at the center of projects and ensuring that project activities are implemented by and for women.

This puts some of the international aid agencies’ activities at odds with Taliban policies that deny rights to women, such as in education.

A World Bank spokesperson said the $300 million in available funding would run until June 30, 2025, through the remainder of the current fiscal year and all of the next fiscal year.

Doha to Host Meeting on Afghanistan This Sunday

The spokesperson for the UN General-Secretary has said that the UN chief is set to travel to Qatar on Sunday (February 18) to participate in the meeting.

TOLOnews has seen a list showing that representatives from Russia, China, Iran, India, Japan, Tajikistan, US, France, Germany, and the EU will take part in the meeting.

The spokesperson for the UN General-Secretary has said that the UN chief is set to travel to Qatar on Sunday (February 18) to participate in the meeting.

“As we mentioned when we first announced the meeting, the objective is to discuss how to approach increasing international engagement in a more coherent, coordinated and structured manner, including through consideration of the recommendations of the independent assessment on Afghanistan,” said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN chief.

Dujarric added that women will also participate in the meeting to raise the voices of Afghan women.

“As we said there will be a meeting between the envoys and civil society groups, which of course include Afghan women. It is very important that the voices of Afghan women be heard in these discussions,” said Stéphane Dujarric.

As the meeting is set to begin on Sunday, Uzbekistan president’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ismatullah Irgashev met with Hassan Hamza Assad Muhammad Hoshim, Qatar’s ambassador to Uzbekistan.

They talked about the importance of the Doha meeting.

“The two sides discussed the current state of cooperation between the two countries on Afghanistan and the upcoming Doha meeting,” reads part of the statement of the foreign ministry of Uzbekistan.

“The upcoming Doha meeting is important for Afghanistan and if the Taliban participate in the meeting, it will be a plus point, so that they see the world’s decisions,” said Wais Naseri, a political analyst.

Earlier, the Islamic Emirate said that they have presented conditions to the UN for their participation in the Doha meeting.