Patna, March 24: Out of 30 projects shortlisted by the World Bank under its India development programme, four are from Bihar.

The World Bank programme — India Development Marketplace — supports social enterprises working to improve the living condition of economically weaker sections of society, particularly in rural areas.

The four shortlisted projects from Bihar are Bihar Development Trust, Gramin Evam Nagar Vikas Parishad, Samta Samriddhi Foundation and Saran renewable energy private limited.

Altogether 264 proposals were received under India Development Marketplace programme, seeking finance to scale up or replicate inclusive and sustainable business models in Bihar, Orissa and Rajasthan.

“The 30 projects have been selected following a rigorous process of screening and online assessment. They will present their business models to a high-level jury on April 6 in Jaipur, where 13 most innovative proposals will be selected which will have the highest potential to scale up in a financially sustainable way,” said Satyan Mishra, co-founder of Drishtee Foundation, which was the first winner of development marketplace in 2003.

The foundation has been working in association with the World Bank to promote social entrepreneurs.

Each winning project would receive $50,000 (about Rs 22,47,500) in two instalments over a period of 24 months, to support the project besides getting technical assistance under the supervision of International Finance Corporation.

Christened as India Development Marketplace 2011, the programme would select projects (proposals) on the basis of social impact, sustainability, potential for growth and how innovative the model is, Mishra said, adding registered non-profit or profit making organisations implementing inclusive business models, particularly organisations run by women, have been encouraged to apply for World Bank assistance.

The Indian development marketplace programme was launched in 1998 and since then the World Bank and International Finance Corporation have financed around 800 projects in the world. Similar programmes were initiated in 2004 and 2007 too. In both these years, 20 organisations across the country were provided aid.