The World Bank has approved $1.57 billion in financing to support Nigeria’s efforts in strengthening human capital and building resilience against climate change. In a statement released on Monday, the international financial institution highlighted that the funding would target health improvements for women, children, and adolescents while addressing the impacts of floods and drought through enhanced dam safety and irrigation projects.

The approved funding will be allocated across three major operations. A total of $570 million will be dedicated to the Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Programme, aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s healthcare services. An additional $500 million will focus on addressing governance challenges in the education and health sectors, while another $500 million will fund the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project.

According to the World Bank, the HOPE-GOV and HOPE-PHC programs will work towards improving service delivery in critical sectors like basic education and primary healthcare, which are essential for boosting Nigeria’s human capital. The HOPE-GOV program, in particular, will address governance inefficiencies that hinder the effective delivery of services in these sectors.

Furthermore, the SPIN project will prioritize the improvement of dam safety and water resource management for both hydropower generation and irrigation in key regions across Nigeria, helping the country mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

More details on the distribution and implementation of the funds are expected to follow soon.