More than 142,000 households in Nepal will get long-awaited access to electricity thanks to the implementation of the Nepal Micro Hydro Project for which an emission reductions purchase agreement (ERPA) was signed on Friday, June 29.

The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are in trouble, says the international development agency, ActionAid.

Pamela Cox, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, announced on June 29 the appointment of three new country directors for the region to head the units of Mexico and Colombia; the Andes: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela; and the Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, effective July 1st, 2007.

On 28 June the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit[1]of US$40 million to support Benin’s poverty reduction strategy.

The World Bank approved on June 28 a US$50 million loan to help Uruguay expand water and sanitation services to reach more residents in the country's smaller towns and cities as well as improve the efficiency and sustainability of water and sanitation services.

On June 28 the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a supplemental US$7.35 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for Mexico to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through the consolidation of the National Protected Areas System.

On June 28 the World Bank’s Board of Directors approved three loans for Argentina for a total of US$870 million to support infrastructure and social programs, as well as a US$7 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for biodiversity conservation.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved on June 28 a US $2.5 million International Development Association (IDA) grant for the repair and maintenance of electricity supply services in Timor-Leste.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved on June 28 a US$322.15 million loan in support of Turkey’s Istanbul Municipality Infrastructure Project (IMIP).

On June 28, 2007 the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a EUR50 million loan for the Revenue Administration Modernization Project (US$68 million equivalent) for Croatia.

On June 28 the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a US$5 million grant in additional financing for the Kosovo Energy Sector Clean-up and Land Reclamation Project.

On June 28, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a USD10 million loan to the Russian Federation for the Second State Statistical System Development Project (STASYS 2).