Brasília, 3/20/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday the Senate approved the US$505 million loan from the World Bank which will be used for social programs to reduce poverty and improve the quality and efficiency of public expenditures in education, health and social assistance.

The funding is linked to a commitment to continued governmental action in essential programs for human development, and may be followed by two more loans of the same amount.

The loan will be paid back beginning in 2011, with the final payment in 2013. (AB)