On June 30, 2020, the World Bank’s Executive Board of Directors approved $315 million in International Development Association (IDA) financing for two projects in Ghana.
The package allocates $200 million to a Jobs and Skills project and $115 million to a Digital Transformation project to enhance public sector efficiency.
Jobs and Skills Initiative
The Jobs and Skills project targets youth, providing training in employable skills and entrepreneurship.
It will support apprentices with self-employment opportunities or job placements and strengthen ties with trade associations.
The initiative also includes training, grants, and entrepreneurship support for micro and small enterprises.
A key feature is the creation of a Ghana labor market information system, a public database to track employer and worker data, offering insights into the nation’s job landscape.
Digital Transformation Efforts
The Digital Transformation project aims to improve the efficiency and accessibility of government services through technology.
By digitizing public sector operations, it seeks to streamline processes and enhance service delivery, aligning with Ghana’s development priorities.
Alignment with COVID-19 Recovery
Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, stated, “The two projects are aligned with the government’s coordinated program of economic and social development and are even more relevant and timely in the current COVID-19 context.”
He emphasized that supporting jobs and livelihoods for micro, small, and medium enterprises is central to Ghana’s COVID-19 response, driving economic recovery amid the pandemic’s challenges.
