WASHINGTON, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank Board of Executive Directors Thursday approved 29.5 million U.S. dollars in grants for Eritrea's energy and early childhood development programs.

    The Power Distribution and Rural Electrification project received 17.5 million dollars and the Integrated Early Childhood Development project obtained 12 million dollars.

    The Power Distribution and Rural Electrification project is part of broad-based support for economic growth through the rehabilitation of both the electricity distribution network and generation plants.

    The Bank has been supporting the development of the power sector in Eritrea through a credit and grant of 50 million dollars approved in June 2004.

    The Early Childhood Development initiative will consolidate gains realized through a similar project approved in July 2000 and closed in March 2007. The new project will improve health, nutrition and access to pre-school education for Eritrean children aged 6 years and under in targeted project villages.