Hebron,
West Bank,
December 19, 2011—IFC,
a member of the World Bank Group, is supporting the the Joint Services
Council for Hebron and Bethlehem in attracting private sector participation
for the operation and maintenance of the new Al-Minya Landfill that will
provide improved solid waste management services to approximately 780,000
inhabitants.
The World Bank is financing construction
of this landfill through its Southern West Bank Solid Waste Management
Project.
IFC’s mandate is to explore public-private
partnership options for the management of an efficient solid waste management
system in the southern West Bank. By acting as lead advisor, IFC will review
legal, technical and commercial aspects of the project to develop a sound
transaction structure. IFC will then support the Joint Services Council
in the tender process to select an appropriate private partner and implement
private sector operation of the solid waste management system
“A fully-functioning solid waste management
system is critical for the health and economic well-being of the residents
of Hebron and Bethlehem,” said Khaled Ossaily, Chairman of the Joint Services
Council for Hebron and Bethlehem. “The strong collaboration between the
two governorates, comprised of 33 local authorities, and the private sector,
provide the right platform to make this system a success."
The Al-Minya Landfill is expected to
open in early 2013 and to process approximatley 34 percent of the solid
waste in the West Bank. Most solid waste in the West Bank is left in unregulated
dump sites, and the new landfill, to be based on international standards,
will dramatically improve sanitation services. This project would be the
first public-private infrastructure project in the West Bank.
“The private sector has the technical
expertise and management capability to deliver the basic services that
West Bank residents need,” said Luke Haggarty, IFC’s Senior Manager for
Advisory Services in the Middle East and North Africa. “This project can
demonstrate these benefits and open the door for increased public-private
partnerships in the future.”
This project of IFC Advisory Services
is also supported by Spain, Austria and Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory
Facility.
This initiative is part of IFC’s strategy
in the West Bank and Gaza to promote economic development by helping provide
residents with access to essential services. IFC has been active in the
West Bank and Gaza since1996, and committed more than $200 million in investments.
In fiscal year 2011, IFC committed almost $22 million in West Bank
and Gaza, and our current investment portfolio in the region stands at
$145 million. Recently IFC’s focus has been in the financial and telecommunication
sectors, with the goal to expand in other sectors including Public Private
Partnerships.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group,
is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the
private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth
by financing investment, providing advisory services to businesses and
governments, and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets.
In fiscal 2011, amid economic uncertainty across the globe, we helped our
clients create jobs, strengthen environmental performance, and contribute
to their local communities—all while driving our investments to an all-time
high of nearly $19 billion. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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