The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved three new projects to support the Indian state of Assam in strengthening climate resilience, improving governance and service delivery, and equipping more than 4 million students with the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.
Located in India’s northeast, Assam plays a strategic role as a gateway to Southeast Asia, offering strong potential for regional trade and integration. However, the state also faces significant challenges, including climate vulnerability, infrastructure gaps, and multidimensional poverty, which constrain inclusive growth.
“Smart development builds communities’ resilience to extreme weather events. A well-constructed road and school keep learning uninterrupted, and helps people access markets and boost incomes,” said Paul Procee, Acting Country Director for World Bank India. “By investing in Assam and improving logistics, climate-resilient infrastructure, and human capital, these projects can catalyse private sector development and foster long-term prosperity in a high-potential yet underserved region.”
Climate-resilient roads and improved connectivity
The Assam Disaster Resilient Hill Roads Development Project ($350 million) will construct climate-resilient roads, particularly in hilly areas, reducing travel times for around 190,000 people in tribal and rural communities. The project will also strengthen transport and logistics hubs across the northeastern region of the state, including facilities with truck and container bays, public transport access, and electric vehicle charging points.
“The lack of all-weather roads in Assam restricts access to markets and technology for rural communities,” said task team leaders Tesfamichael Mitiku, Iguniwari Ekeu-Wei, and Vijetha Bezzam. “This project will help more than 50,000 young people gain better access to jobs through improved roads and services.”
Education and adolescent wellbeing
The Assam: School Education and Adolescent Wellbeing Project ($250 million) will improve learning outcomes for more than 2 million primary school students and support another 2 million adolescents aged 10–19 with life-skills training and enhanced curricula, including multilingual education.
“A continuum of services at each stage of education builds foundational skills and prepares youth for jobs and livelihoods,” said task team leaders Meghna Sharma and Pravesh Kumar. The project will also invest in more climate-resilient school infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted access to education.
Stronger governance and service delivery
The Assam Governance and Service Delivery Program ($80 million) will strengthen public financial management, improve the allocation and use of public resources, enhance administrative services for citizens and businesses, and reinforce the state’s data ecosystem.
“Building on earlier World Bank-supported governance reforms in Assam, this program will help improve service delivery through sustainable public finance and better data for timely decision-making,” said task team leaders Tanya Gupta and Shreya Dutt Mishra.
Each of the three projects has a final maturity of 16 years, including a three-year grace period, and together they represent a coordinated effort to build resilience, improve opportunity, and support inclusive growth across Assam.
