The Diplomat
The First Vice President and Minister of Economy and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, pledged yesterday with the President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass, to support this organization’s project to repair health infrastructures and strengthen basic healthcare in Ukraine.
Specifically, as reported by the Ministry, the Government of Spain will provide a 100 million euro guarantee for the World Bank’s Health Enhancement and Life-Saving (HEAL Ukraine) project, which is helping the Ukrainian authorities to repair hospital and primary care infrastructures, strengthen mental health and rehabilitation services, regain ground in child immunization, restore access to affordable medicines and expand online health services.
Calviño and Malpass met yesterday in Bangalore, India, on the sidelines of the first G20 meeting for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, under India’s chairmanship. “Spain’s contribution to the World Bank project will strengthen health infrastructures and save lives in Ukraine. We are deeply committed to a united and coordinated global response to restore peace in Ukraine,” stated the Vice President.
According to David Malpass, “Russian attacks are inflicting brutal human suffering, while decimating the very health infrastructure needed to respond to that suffering and to meet the country’s basic health needs.” Therefore, “we welcome the support of the Government of Spain and its contribution to this critical initiative,” which “is helping the Government of Ukraine improve access to primary care and address the health challenges resulting from the war,” he added.
This health project, approved by the World Bank in December 2022, is mobilizing partner resources through an innovative approach. The €100 million guarantee from Spain is complemented by $10 million from the Global Financing Facility and another $10 million from the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF). Given the growing needs in Ukraine’s health sector, the project aims to raise $500 million.
The URTF was established by the World Bank to coordinate aid financing aimed at sustaining Ukraine’s government functions, providing services and implementing aid flows. The URTF is a flexible platform that allows the World Bank to prioritize and channel funds to the most urgent needs of the Government of Ukraine, and currently has contributions from Austria, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
To date, the World Bank has mobilized more than $18 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, including donor pledges and commitments. More than $17 billion of this funding has been disbursed. This is a complete list of financing for Ukraine mobilized by the World Bank Group.
