The Islamic Development Bank’s (IsDB) Board of Executive Directors has approved $1.365 billion in financing for 12 member countries, the bank announced. The 363rd Board meeting, chaired by IsDB President Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, endorsed 14 operations covering renewable energy and cross-border power connections, major transport routes, water security and agriculture, plus education and health services. The money is meant to strengthen economic resilience, improve access to essential services, and push progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Transport projects make up a big chunk of the approvals. Benin will get EUR 306.89 million to expand and upgrade the Godomey–Ouidah–Hillacondji Road, a strategic stretch of the Abidjan–Lagos corridor. Côte d’Ivoire will receive EUR 200 million to upgrade the Tafiré–Ferkessédougou section of the A3 highway, a key route for trade and movement between central and northern regions and neighboring landlocked countries. Bahrain will get $180.72 million for the King Faisal Highway Upgrade Project in Manama to ease traffic and improve city mobility. Lebanon will receive $13.50 million to build the Bqerqasha Diversion and upgrade the Bqerqasha–Bcharre road, improving access and safety for local communities.
On the energy front, Uzbekistan will get $110 million for the Samarkand I and Samarkand II solar and battery storage projects, which will add major solar capacity and storage to the national grid. Mauritania will receive EUR 55.19 million for the Mauritania–Mali Electricity Interconnection and related solar plants, linking the two power systems and bringing cleaner, more reliable electricity to communities like Aweinat and Nema.
Several approvals tackle water stress and food security head-on. Morocco will get EUR 188.82 million for the Mitigating Water Stress Project to build dams and infrastructure that secures water supplies and moves surplus water from the north to drier regions in the south. The country will also receive EUR 18.23 million for the Inland Aquaculture Value Chain Development Project to expand fish farming and create jobs. Sierra Leone will get EUR 25.93 million for the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project to improve water and sanitation in Greater Freetown and restore key watershed areas. Cameroon will receive EUR 36.66 million for the Sustainable Irrigation and Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, backing climate-resilient irrigation, better inputs, and improved rural infrastructure. Jordan’s Rural Employment and Agricultural Growth Program will get $11.25 million to support rural jobs and farm productivity, focusing on women and youth through better finance access, skills training, and market connections.
The Board also approved health and education investments. Mauritania will get EUR 61.41 million for a new 440-bed Referral Hospital for Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health in Nouakchott, expanding specialized care for women and children. Tajikistan will receive $13.95 million for the Tourism Business Education Development Project to upgrade tourism and hospitality education and build a national center that will serve as a regional training hub with a focus on Halal tourism. Pakistan will get $10 million to support the Out-of-School Children Project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, expanding access to inclusive, quality, and climate-resilient learning opportunities for kids currently out of school.
