On December 1, 2023, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group sanctioned loans totaling nearly USD 250 million for Rwanda in Abidjan, with the objective of enhancing the populace’s access to water and sanitation services.
The initial phase of the Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program for Transformation will benefit from a USD 199.5 million loan from the Bank and an additional USD 50 million from the USD 250 million (AGTF), a collaborative financing initiative involving the African Development Bank and the People’s Bank of China. The Rwandan government will contribute USD 24.7 million to support the program. The project is slated for implementation over a five-year period, from January 2024 to December 2029.
This program is designed to bolster access to water supply and sanitation services for the Rwandan population, fortify water resource management, and enhance the operational efficiency of water and sanitation service providers in the targeted regions. Furthermore, it aims to increase the country’s resilience to climate change.
Comprising four key components, the program includes investments in water supply, drainage basin management, sanitation infrastructure, and program management, with a specific focus on supporting a program framework for investment planning.
In its initial phase, the program will concentrate on refurbishing the Nzove water treatment plant and constructing water supply networks for Nyaruguru-Huye-Gisagara, Mwange, Muhazi, Mugesera, and Kivu Belt. The Nzove 1 water treatment plant,
built in 2008, will undergo refurbishment to restore water production to its nominal capacity of 40,000 cubic meters per day, benefiting an additional 227,000 people. Simultaneously, the construction of a water supply network for Nyaruguru-Huye-Gisagara will meet the growing demand for water, serving over 1.2 million people.
The program will also address wastewater infrastructure shortages, providing households with increased access to improved sanitation services through an inclusive city-wide approach. This includes the construction of climate-resilient sanitary facilities in public schools, markets, and health centers, alongside the creation of sanitation promotion centers and on-site treatment in public sanitary facilities.
The African Development Bank has consistently supported various water sector projects in Rwanda, including the Sustainable and Resilient Water and Sanitation Program, the Muvumba Multipurpose Water Resources Development Program, and the Kigali Water Supply Project. The anticipated outcomes of these initiatives encompass enhanced raw water storage and treatment capacity, improved sanitation services, and sustainable raw water resources for water supply systems.
The program aligns with :the Bank’s Country Strategy Paper for Rwanda (2022-2026), its Ten-Year Strategy, and the “High 5” priority areas, particularly the goal to “Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.”
Source:AFDB