WASHINGTON, February 12, 2025-The World Bank Group today announced the conditional non-debarment for a period of 18 months of Stichting Cordaid, a charitable foundation registered in the Netherlands, in connection with fraudulent practices as part of the Central African Republic Health Systems Support Project.
The project aimed to increase utilization and improve the quality of maternal and child health services in targeted rural areas of the country, and to provide emergency health services to the general population. Under the facts of the case, Stichting Cordaid reviewed and approved project-financed subsidy payments to health centers. In doing so, Stichting Cordaid misrepresented that payments to a health center met project criteria when, due to a change in the facility's operator, they no longer did. This was a fraudulent practice according to the World Bank's Anti-Corruption Framework.
The conditional non-debarment means that Stichting Cordaid remains eligible to participate in World Bank Group-financed projects and operations as long as it complies with its obligations under the settlement agreement. As part of the settlement agreement, Stichting Cordaid does not contest culpability and agreed to meet specified integrity compliance conditions. These include adopting integrity compliance measures that reflect the relevant principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
Stichting Cordaid also commits to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency. The settlement agreement reduces Stichting Cordaid's conditional non-debarment period due to its cooperation and voluntary remedial actions.
