World Bank backs out from funding Sierra Leone census

The World Bank has withdrawn its support for a population and housing census in Sierra Leone just days before it was due to begin, ... 1/2AparticipantstandsnearalogoofWorldBankattheInternationalMonetaryFund-WorldBankAnnualMeeting2018inNusaDua,Bali,Indonesia,October12,2018.REUTERS/JohannesP.Christo/FilePhotoReadMoreRegisternowforFREEunlimitedaccesstoReuters.comRegisterFREETOWN,Dec9(Reuters)-TheWorldBankhaswithdrawnitssupportforapopulationandhousingcensusinSierraLeonejustdaysbeforeitwasduetobegin,accordingtoaletterfromtheBankaddressedtoSierraLeone'sfinanceminister.PresidentJuliusMaadaBiolastweekannouncedthatthenationalstatisticsofficewouldlaunchatwo-weekmid-termcensusonDec.10tocorrect"anomalies"fromthelastcountin2015,whichthepreviousadministrationusedtojustifycreatingadditionaldistrictsinitsstrongholds.Theformerrulingpartyandcurrentoppositionhavesaidtheywouldboycotttheexercise,callingitapoliticalgimmickbyBio'sgovernmenttoincreasetheirownconstituencycountaheadofthe2023presidentialelection.RegisternowforFREEunlimitedaccesstoReuters.comRegisterTheWorldBankwastoprovidethebulkofthemoneyforthecensus,usinganunspecifiedportionofa$30milliongrantearmarkedforSierraLeonelastyeartostrengthenitsstatisticalsystem.InalettertoSierraLeoneFinanceMinisterDennisVandithatwasseenbyReuters,theWorldBank'scountrydirector,PierreLaporte,saidthegovernmenthadfailedtomeetthenecessaryconditionsforthefundstobedisbursed."TheBankexpertshadpreviouslycommunicatedtotheGovernmentthatthisfundingwouldbedisburseduponthesatisfactorycompletionofseveralcriticalactions,"thelettersaid.Itwentontosaythatthefundscouldstillbereleasedifcertainconditionsweremetaheadoftheexercise,includingensuringthatthoseconductingthecensusareadequatelytrained.StatisticianGeneralOsmanSankohtoldReutersthatthegovernmenthadalreadytrainedmorethan15,000stafffortheoperation,andthatthecensuswouldgoaheadasplanned."Acensusisagovernment’sresponsibility,supportedbydevelopmentpartners,"Sankohsaid."WeareextremelygratefultotheWorldBankforthesupport...(but)thereareotherdonorsandpartners."RegisternowforFREEunlimitedaccesstoReuters.comRegisterReportingbyUmaruFofana; EditingbyCooperInveenandBillBerkrotOurStandards:TheThomsonReutersTrustPrinciples.MorefromReutersSustainableSwitchSubscribetooursustainabilitynewslettertomakesenseofthelatestESGtrendsaffectingcompaniesandgovernments.SignupDailyBriefingSubscribetoournewslettertogetallthenewsyouneedtostartyourday.Signup