WASHINGTON, DC, December 16, 2025 - The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a new operation to expand access to quality health, education, and social assistance services in Brazil's Municipality of Salvador, in the northeastern State of Bahia.
Overall, the Salvador Social III Program is expected to benefit 1.7 million residents who rely on the public health system, 104,000 students in municipal schools, and 1.1 million individuals registered in the Cadastro Único, the social registry of the poor and vulnerable population.
By strengthening integrated service delivery across these three sectors, the Salvador Social Multi-Sector Service Delivery Program III project will strengthen services for the population of the city, supporting a more inclusive and productive workforce.
"As Salvador Social enters its third phase, it reaffirms itself as the largest social investment program in the city's history, with more than US$250 million invested in social assistance, education, and health during its first two phases - areas that are a clear priority of our administration," said Salvador's mayor, Bruno Reis. "With the continued support of the World Bank, this new phase will deepen these advances by improving service quality, expanding innovation, and strengthening care for our most vulnerable populations."
"This program will help Salvador deliver better and more inclusive services in areas that are fundamental for people's daily lives: quality healthcare, stronger schools, and more responsive social assistance," stated Cécile Fruman, World Bank Country Director for Brazil. "By investing in integrated service delivery and modern digital systems, the municipality is strengthening its human capital foundations and creating new opportunities for skilled jobs across the social sector."
Representing a US$120 million World Bank investment within a broader US$1.8 billion municipal initiative, the Program will expand access to quality specialized health services, especially for non-communicable diseases. It will also strengthen learning by improving foundational literacy, enhancing teacher training, and promoting more inclusive education. In addition, the Program will modernize social assistance through more digitalized and integrated systems. These reforms aim to improve service quality, reduce waiting times, and enhance inclusion for vulnerable groups. They will also build skills across the health, education, and social protection workforce and expand opportunities in digital systems, data management, monitoring, and case management.
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