World Bank may stop Aids funding in Kenya

[Guest guest]

World Bank may stop Aids funding

By Konchora Guracha

Uncertainty looms over the World Bank's continued funding of HIV/Aids

campaigns in Kenya due to delays in audit reports and concerns on the

use of previous disbursements.

And officials at the National Aids Control Council are alarmed by the

delay in the disbursement of the funds to both line ministries under

the Aids Control Units (ACUs) and the numerous local community-based

organisations (CBOs).

The disturbing thing is that a mere 50 per cent of an initial US$50

million (about Sh40 billion) loan commitment from the World Bank

under the Kenya Aids Disaster Project covering 2000-2005 has to date

been disbursed through NACC— the sole resource mobiliser in the fight

of the scourge.

Speaking at a stakeholders' workshop at the Safari Park Hotel in

Nairobi yesterday, NACC director Dr Orege said there were 400

approved proposals costing over Sh440 million at the national level

for the ACUs, and others with a whooping 3 million costing Sh1.3

billion.

" The communities are ready, the ministries are ready, NACC is also

ready. Some NGOs and CBOs have even signed contract forms. But the

disturbing thing is that disbursement is not forthcoming. We need to

address this issue as a disaster, Dr Orege said.

He said there was need for the Bank to be flexible in its lending

processes and consider reducing red tape to save lives.

" The Banks disbursement has reached almost 50 per cent, but time is

limited. We want to utilise the funds. And to do that, we would like

as many bureaucratic red tapes done away with. Disbursement to

communities should have been faster " , Dr Orege said.

He, however, admitted the Bank has in the past expressed concerns

over the use of funds earmarked for HIV/Aids.

It has also emerged that funding from the World Bank has not been

forthcoming since November, last year, ostensibly over delays in

expenditure audits and progress reports.

NACC sources said the June 2002 - June 2003 audit report was holding

up funding.

The NACC has over the last two years been in the news over

allegations of corruption, something insiders now blame on a

midstream freeze on funds from the Bretton Woods Institution.

http://www.eastandard.net/headlines/news23060401.htm

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues,

for us it is no wonder to read these lines as corruption and fraud

still takes place even quite openly. Please see attached newspaper

articles. It is interesting that the government proceeds without

eliminating the sources for this and more than this accepting a status

quo which is based on the results of fraud and corruption, although the

High Supreme Court in Nairobi decided that the specific acquisition

process had to be stopped.

Feel free to widely distribute these evidences. As long as the

community will not be kept informed completely on the situation,

nothing will change and the patients will be the final sufferers !

Best regards

Roland Göhde

HIV/AIDS Project Coordinator

Am 22.06.2004 um 23:43 schrieb Chifu:

> World Bank may stop Aids funding

> By Konchora Guracha

>

> Uncertainty looms over the World Bank's continued funding of HIV/Aids

> campaigns in Kenya due to delays in audit reports and concerns on the

> use of previous disbursements.

>

> And officials at the National Aids Control Council are alarmed by the

> delay in the disbursement of the funds to both line ministries under

> the Aids Control Units (ACUs) and the numerous local community-based

> organisations (CBOs).

>

> The disturbing thing is that a mere 50 per cent of an initial US$50

> million (about Sh40 billion) loan commitment from the World Bank

> under the Kenya Aids Disaster Project covering 2000-2005 has to date

> been disbursed through NACC— the sole resource mobiliser in the fight

> of the scourge.

>

> Speaking at a stakeholders' workshop at the Safari Park Hotel in

> Nairobi yesterday, NACC director Dr Orege said there were 400

> approved proposals costing over Sh440 million at the national level

> for the ACUs, and others with a whooping 3 million costing Sh1.3

> billion.

>

> " The communities are ready, the ministries are ready, NACC is also

> ready. Some NGOs and CBOs have even signed contract forms. But the

> disturbing thing is that disbursement is not forthcoming. We need to

> address this issue as a disaster, Dr Orege said.

>

> He said there was need for the Bank to be flexible in its lending

> processes and consider reducing red tape to save lives.

>

> " The Banks disbursement has reached almost 50 per cent, but time is

> limited. We want to utilise the funds. And to do that, we would like

> as many bureaucratic red tapes done away with. Disbursement to

> communities should have been faster " , Dr Orege said.

>

> He, however, admitted the Bank has in the past expressed concerns

> over the use of funds earmarked for HIV/Aids.

>

> It has also emerged that funding from the World Bank has not been

> forthcoming since November, last year, ostensibly over delays in

> expenditure audits and progress reports.

>

> NACC sources said the June 2002 - June 2003 audit report was holding

> up funding.

>

> The NACC has over the last two years been in the news over

> allegations of corruption, something insiders now blame on a

> midstream freeze on funds from the Bretton Woods Institution.

>

>

> http://www.eastandard.net/headlines/news23060401.htm

>

>

>

> http://www./group/

> http://www./group/aids-africa (a group made up of

> Africans worldwide)

> Join Digital Africa- an information technology group that discusses

> IT in Africa at http://www./group/digafrica