Boost for Kenya: IMF and World Bank Approve $50 Million Aid to Fight Coronavirus

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)  and the World Bank have released $50 million to Kenya to assist in dealing with the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on livelihoods and respective economies.

Last week the World Bank board approved $50 million in immediate funding to support Kenya’s response to the global coronavirus pandemic under a new operation —the Kenya COVID-19 Emergency Response Project.

The World Bank Group Board approved $50 million for Kenya in emergency funding for medical diagnostic services, surveillance and response, capacity building, quarantine, isolation and treatment centers, medical waste disposal, risk communications and community engagement as well as for strengthening of the country’s capacity to provide safe blood services.

Of this amount, $10 million will go to the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service to be used to expand its capacity to provide safe blood and blood products.

“This new fast-track facility will assist Kenya in its efforts to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness,” said Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Country Director for Kenya.

“COVID-19 threatens lives and livelihoods, and a rapid response is needed for food security, nutrition, and schooling.”

The project will be implemented in all 47 counties in the country, with the primary beneficiaries being infected persons, at-risk populations, medical and emergency personnel, medical and testing facilities, and national health agencies.

Kenya’s funding from the World Bank is the first in a series of support the bank is providing to the country in response to the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.

In addition, $10 million was triggered under the Contingency Emergency Response Component of the Transforming Health Systems for Universal Care Project to fund the National COVID-19 Contingency Plan.

The World Bank Group is rolling out a $14 billion fast-track package to strengthen the COVID-19 response in developing countries and shorten the time to recovery.

The immediate response includes financing, policy advice and technical assistance to help countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

In March, the IMF made available about $50 billion through its rapid-disbursing emergency financing facilities for low income and emerging market countries that could potentially seek support.

Rwanda has also received aid from IMF and World Bank amounting to $109. 4 million.