82936
                              Federative Republic of Brazil
      Strengthen Service Delivery for Growth, Poverty Reduction and Environmental
                         Sustainability in the State of Ceará Loan

                                           Chair Summary ∗

                             Meeting of the Executive Directors

                                           November 21, 2013

       Executive Directors approved a loan in the amount of US$350 million to the State of
Ceará, with a guarantee from the Federative Republic of Brazil, for the operation to Strengthen
Service Delivery for Growth, Poverty Reduction and Environmental Sustainability on the
payment terms and conditions set out in the President’s Memorandum.

        Directors welcomed this first PforR operation in Brazil, recognizing the Brazilian
authorities’ firm commitment to deepening public sector management reforms in the State of
Ceará. They noted that the operation is aligned not only with Brazil’s Country Partnership
Strategy and Ceará’s Multi-Year Plan, but with the World Bank Group’s strategy focused on
reducing extreme poverty and fostering shared prosperity.

        Directors supported the choice of the PforR instrument with technical assistance that will
provide cross-cutting public sector management support in specific functions and strengthen
fiduciary systems. In this context, they stressed the importance of disseminating lessons from
this innovative approach to inform other Bank operations. Directors also took note that the loan
will promote equitable social development, sustainable economic development and the
emergence of a more efficient and participatory public sector. They acknowledged the risks
associated with program implementation and urged staff to be vigilant in ensuring the necessary
coordination, monitoring and capacity building among participating Government agencies.
Finally, Directors emphasized the importance of the development impacts of increasing
participation by women in the planned programs.




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 This summary is not an approved record.