The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa ‎‎(BADEA), has signed four loan agreements worth US $ ‎‎25.2 million for the benefit of four countries – Sao Tomé & ‎Principe, Mali, Tanzania and Kenya.‎ The agreements were signed on sideline of The Annual ‎Meetings of the the World Bank Group and the ‎International Monetary Fund (IMF) that took place in ‎Washington, during the period 20-24 September 2011. ‎ Republic of Sao Tomé & Principe:- ‎ Under the agreement, Sao Tome & Principe received a loan of US $ ‎‎3,20 million to finance Water Supply for the City of “Ribeira Afonso”.‎ The Project aims at the provision of potable water to the residence ‎of the city of “Ribeira Afonso” and some of the surrounding villages ‎to meet the current and future demands up to the year 2035, ‎improve the health standards and reduce the suffer to fetching for ‎water especially on women and children. The project will also ‎encourage economic activities which will help in increasing the income ‎and their stability. ‎ Republic of Mali: ‎ Mali received a loan of US $ 4 million to finance a Line of Credit to ‎Mali Solidarity Bank.‎ The project aims to alleviate poverty by strengthening the financial ‎activity of Mali Solidarity Bank so as to provide the capital resources ‎of the segments targeted its operations (contractors, the young and ‎the young unemployed and the owners of small craft and craftsmen ‎and women and owners of small agricultural areas ... and others) to ‎help them to implement micro projects, and the achievement of job ‎opportunities, which lead to the reduction of poverty and achieve ‎sustainable development in the country.‎ United Republic of Tanzania: ‎ Moreover, BADEA signed a loan totaling US $ 8 million dollars to ‎help finance “Orkesumet” Township Water Supply in the United Republic ‎of Tanzania.‎ The Project aims at participating in the improvement of health, social ‎and economic conditions through the supply of potable water to ‎‎“Orkesumet” township and the surrounding villages to meet the ‎current water demand and the future water demand (2034) to ‎participate in lessening the burden of fetching water and to reduce ‎the outbreak of polluted water borne diseases and hence leading to ‎the improvement of the level of health, settlement of population, in ‎addition to the promotion of the economic activities thus leading to ‎the improvement of incomes and reduction of poverty.‎ Republic of Kenya: ‎ During the same occasion, BADEA and Kenya signed also a loan ‎totaling US $ 10 million dollars to help finance Rural Electrification in ‎Five Areas.‎ The Project aims at improving the standard of living and reducing ‎poverty and rate of immigration from rural to urban areas through ‎the provision of power supply to houses, schools, health and ‎government centres and commercial, industrial and agricultural ‎activities, which will help in boosting the economic and social ‎development. The project will improve small industries working in the ‎field of agriculture industries specially tea and coffee, in addition to ‎achieving positive environmental impact represented in reducing the ‎use of wood as source of energy.‎ The four loans were granted on highly concessional terms; in ‎accordance with BADEA's Six Five-Year-Plan (2010-2014), and are ‎to be reimbursed over a period of 30 years and include a grace ‎period of 10 years, with an annual interest rate of 1%, except the ‎Line of Credit to the Republic of Mali, which will be reimbursed over ‎‎22 year and include a grace period of 7 years, with an annual ‎interest rate of 1% .