World Bank Afghanistan

The World Bank has been a partner with Afghanistan since 1955. Since then, we have committed more than $3.34 billion for development projects the World Bank-administered Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund has raised more than $9.2 billion. Afghanistan became a member of the World Bank in 1955. Shortly after the Soviet invasion in 1979, World Bank operations were suspended, although the Bank con

tinued to provide assistance to Afghans through the Bank office in Pakistan. Prior to 1979, the World Bank had provided 21 no-interest loans, known as ‘credits’, to Afghanistan across a wide range of areas including education, roads, and agriculture. Operations resumed in May 2002 to help meet the immediate needs of the poorest people while assisting the government in developing the administrative systems required for longer-term nationwide development. Aid has since grown tremendously. To date, the World Bank has provided a total of over $3.34 billion for development and emergency reconstruction projects, and five budget support operations in Afghanistan. This support comprises over $2.90 billion in grants and $436.4 million in no-interest loans known as ‘credits’. As of April 2016, the Bank has 16 active IDA projects in Afghanistan with net commitments value of over $1.3 billion.