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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