Fund launched to help reconstruct Haiti

The Bank says it will contribute additional funding of $189 million.

World Bank officials say the fund will benefit from at least 14 donor countries including Brazil, Canada, Estonia, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The fund was created to mobilise and allocate resources from the international community to support Haiti's plan for recovery and development.

World Bank officials have promised public postings of construction spending and other anti-corruption measures while overseeing the multi-billion dollar rebuilding fund.

They have announced the creation of an anti-corruption unit within the Interim Commission for Haiti's Reconstruction.

The Fund's directors say they expect to oversee projects in Haiti for around a decade.

These range from clearing storm drains and building sound housing for quake victims to improving transportation and electricity networks.

Bolstering the government's ability to function is also a priority, officials say.

The Bank says Fund managers would work "in a manner that builds the capacity of the Haitian state and society in the longer term".

International donors last month pledged a total of $9.9 billion dollars to help rebuild Haiti.