The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved two loans amounting to US$171mn to finance Rwanda’s sustainable water supply and sanitation programme
The programme has been designed with an aim to improve quality of life and socio-economic development of the country.
It further focuses on ensuring equitable provision of adequate, reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services for targeted cities to promote economic growth and transformation.
Under the programme, water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services are expected to be provided in Kigali and satellite towns of Rubavu, Rusizi, Nyagatare, Muhanga, Huye, Musanze and Karongi.
According to AfDB, around 1.1mn people are seen to be benefitted from improved water supply services, with an additional 475,000 to have access to better sanitation.
The programme also tallies with Rwanda’s Vision 2020 which aims to envision scaling up investments in reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable infrastructure, with water and sanitation being projected as key drivers of economic transformation and rural development.
“The country’s second economic development and poverty reduction strategy (EDPRS II) planned to increase access to improved water supply and sanitation to 100 per cent and 58.3 per cent, respectively,” said AfDB.
By providing sustainable and affordable water and sanitation services, the programme focuses on accelerating development and improving quality of life of the people as espoused by the bank’s High 5 priorities under the Ten Year Strategy from 2013-2022.
AfDB further added that the programme will be implemented in 48 months from January 2018 at a total cost of US$262mn. The AfDB’s US$121.137mn loan and US$50mn Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF) loan account for 65.24 per cent of the total cost. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Government of Rwanda will contribute 19.25 per cent and 15.51 per cent respectively.
