World Bank Group Timeline
Credit for drought relief approved for countries affected by Sahelian drought
During the late 1960s and the first half of the 1970s, a severe drought impacting the six Sahelian countries -- Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) -- left millions of farmers destitute. As part of a concerted international aid effort, the World Bank Group approves IDA credits totaling $14 million to the six countries. The projects aim to help redevelop farms and herds in the drought-affected areas through a series of sub-projects involving small-scale irrigation, animal health measures, and rural water supply. Due to the urgency of the situation, normal preparation procedures, such as completing preparation prior to appraisal or submission of the project to the Board, were waived.
Resource Gallery
Regional Drought Project (Chad)
P000487: Approved Nov. 13, 1973
The profile contains project and financial information, and lists of project documents and archival records.
Credit signing for Mauritania drought relief
Dec 7, 1973
Ambassador Ahmedou Ould Abdallah signs for Mauritania (1725776; Credit: The World Bank).
Regional Drought Project (Mali)
P001692: Approved Nov. 13, 1973
The profile contains project and financial information, and lists of project documents and archival records.
Credit signing for Chad drought relief
Dec 7, 1973
Ambassador M’Baiaabe Dingaondikim Abdou signs for Chad (1717357; Credit: The World Bank).
Memorandum regarding credit signing
Dec. 7, 1973
The memo includes arrangements for the signing ceremony for the Drought Relief Fund Project (30287287).
Interview with E. Peter Wright
Interview date: October 9, 1992
Wright discusses Sahelian drought relief on pages 5-6 of the transcript.
Credit signing for Senegal drought relief
Dec 7, 1973
Ambassador Andre Coulbary signs for Senegal (1727678; Credit: The World Bank).
Credit signing for Mali drought relief
Dec 7, 1973
Ambassador Seydou Traoure signs for Mali (1725622; Credit: The World Bank).
Memo from J. Crosnier to files
Sept. 28, 1973
The memo contains the meeting agenda for the Inter-State Conference on Drought Relief for the Sahel held in Ouagadougou on Aug. 30 - Sept. 12, 1973 (1494916).
