SOC INVEST FUND II

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The Second Social Investment Fund (SIF) Project continues the support provided under the First SIF (CR. 2127BO) building on its achievements and correcting shortcomings identified during the mid-term review. It assists the Government in improving coverage and quality of basic services in the health, education, water supply and sanitation sectors. It provides institutional strengthening support to SIF to improve the quality of its operations by better targeting the poor, improving supervision of its subprojects, reducing the time in subproject processing and strengthening its financial planning capabilities. The credit finances investment subprojects in: (i) health, including nutrition programs and basic training for communities to improve their nutrition; basic and primary health care, including health infrastructure for health districts (health posts, health centers and district hospitals), immunization and epidemiology programs; (ii) basic water supply and sanitation infrastructure, including wells, distribution pipes and small-scale sewerage systems or latrines in rural communities, combined with training of the communities in the operation and maintenance of the systems and on basic hygiene; and (iii) education, including construction and rehabilitation of primary schools, multiservice centers, rural boarding schools, and provision of equipment, furniture and texts; and short-term adult literacy and practical training, particularly targeting women.