From Nasir Shuaibu, BAUCHI
Projects implemented under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) programme in Bauchi State are expected to play a key role in ongoing discussions over additional financing and possible extension of the World Bank-supported project.
The Bauchi State Project Coordinator, Dr Kabir Ibrahim disclosed to Journalists said this followed the arrival of a World Bank delegation and officials of the ACReSAL National Project Coordination Office in Bauchi for a five-day performance assessment of the programme.
According to him, said the assessment comes as the four-year-old project approaches the end of its current financing arrangement, with officials disclosing that available funds have been exhausted while some interventions are yet to be completed.
Dr Kabir Ibrahim said the project had conducted a mid-term review and subsequently opened discussions with the World Bank on extending the programme through additional financing.
He said the current mission would examine the performance of the project and inspect selected interventions in Bauchi to enable the World Bank assess the impact of investments already made.
“We implemented a lot of projects under ACReSAL in most of the participating states, and that is why the World Bank and the programme decided to come to Bauchi for this assessment,” he said.
Dr Kabir explained that the mission would review project proposals and activities carried out so far, with the findings expected to contribute to discussions on securing additional resources.
He said the project team was, however, yet to determine what additional financing could be secured from the World Bank.
According to him, the priority at the moment is to provide the World Bank with adequate information on the achievements, outstanding projects and resources required to complete them.
The five-day engagement will include performance reviews and field visits to selected ACReSAL projects in Bauchi.
Dr Kabir added that the outcome of the exercise is expected to help determine the next steps for the programme, particularly the possibility of additional financing to complete ongoing interventions and sustain the gains recorded under ACReSAL.
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