Rwanda’s Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme will receive funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
A major construction programme is on the way.
In Rwanda, the rate of access to drinking water and sanitation has exceeded 80% since 2014.
Yet there are peri-urban and rural areas that show disparities.
It is currently the country’s largest investment programme according to the African Development Bank (AfDB), which has also announced that it will finance the project, with a total of 115 million euros.
Funding for this new phase of Rwanda’s Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme will provide safe drinking water to 1.5 million people, 700,000 of whom live in villages or peri-urban areas.
In the city of Kigali, for example, the government plans to build a drinking water supply system that should also benefit people living on the periphery.
They will be supplied by the Gasanze, Kanyinya and Bweramvura pumping stations.
With regard to sanitation, it is planned to build a centralised sewer system comprising an 86.5 km network and 3.1 km of sewer main pipes.
Like the AfDB, other development partners have invested in this programme.

The AfDB bank has approved a €117 million loan to finance investment into making drinking water available in Morocco.
The project will target 2.5 million people in Guercif in the northeast, Zagora in the east, Al Hoceima in the north, Tangier, and Beni Mellal in central Morocco.
The program, which plans to ensure sustainable access to drinking water, meets two of the bank’s five highest priorities: “Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa” and “Industrialize Africa.” For Leila Farah Mokaddem, the bank’s Morocco country manager, the project “will contribute to further improving the quality of life of millions of Moroccans.” “Taken together with our investments in education, agriculture and energy, it will facilitate the emergence of new poles of development,” Mokaddem added.
The project is also aligned with the priorities set in the 2016-2020 investment plan of Morocco’s National Electricity and Drinking Water Agency (ONEE).
In June, the head of ONEE in the Fez region, Mohammed Berkia, said that office is adopting projects to improve the potable water supply in Al Hoceima through 2035.
Berkia said the projects would cost an estimated MAD 714 million.
The government has budgeted MAD 900 million for the project, which will launch by the end of the year.
Berkia’s statements came three weeks after King Mohammed VI instructed the government to build river and hill dams to help alleviate water scarcity in rural Morocco.
The monarch called on the commission to establish desalination plants and to ensure sustainable water in agricultural fields.
In March 15, El Othmani announced that the government would introduce a national water plan through 2050 to solve water shortages in Morocco.

Five Kitui legislators are reading a sinister motive in the Ministry of Water’s proposal to disband the Tanathi Water Services Board.
The proposal is part of water sector reforms that seek to introduce regional water bodies.
Those against the reforms are Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), Rachael Nyamai (South), Edith Nyenze (West), Paul Nzengu (Mwingi North) and Woman Representative Irene Kasalu.
The regional offices of Tanathi Water Services Board are currently in Kitui town, but staff and machinery are set to be relocated to Mombasa if the new water policy is implemented.
Under the contested water policy, Kitui and Makueni counties would be served under Coast Water Services Board, while Machakos would be under Athi Water Services in Nairobi.
During an event hosted by Nzengu in Tseikuru last Friday, the MPs said the disbandment of Tanathi board will make Kitui lose Sh5 billion in water projects, some of which are funded by the African Development Bank.
Nzengu said he will introduce a private motion at the National Assembly to oppose the disbandment of the Tanathi board.
He urged his colleagues to rally behind him.
He said Ukambani’s water problems should be dealt with from within the region.
We will not accept this move because our water challenges are unique to those of other regions,” Mbai said.

Nigeria: AfDB to Invest $1.1 Billion to Fight Drought, Famine.
The African Development Bank is planning to deploy $1.1 bn following board approval to fight drought and famine in some African countries, the bank said in a statement on Saturday.
The bank issued the statement to commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought which was observed on June 17, aiming to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.
The day is used to remind stakeholders that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation at all levels.
The statement, signed by Emeka Anuforo, said the socio-economic impact of displacement and forced migration due to drought and environmental pressures were significant.
"Refugee and displaced populations pose significant pressure on weak local and national institutions and strain national and local governments and host communities.
"Forest reserves are diminishing due to use of wood for heating and cooking in poor households resulting in soil erosion; and damages to grazing habitat for livestock is on the increase.
In addition, while charcoal is a traditional source of energy and fuel, demand for it drastically affects forest reserves and further reduces rainfall thereby exacerbating aridity."
"The bank has committed $24bn towards agriculture in the next 10 years, with a sharp focus on food self-sufficiency and agricultural industrialisation," AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, said recently.
The recent drought and famine facing some countries (Southern Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda) deserve swift action, as over 20 million face food insecurity and severe malnutrition.

AfDB working with partners to accelerate implementation of drought resilience programme.
Ahead of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced that it would work with partners to accelerate the implementation of the Drought Resilience Sustainable Livelihood Support Programme (DRSLP) in the Horn of Africa.
This year’s theme examines the important link between land degradation and migration.
Among others, environmental degradation, food insecurity and poverty are causes of migration and development challenges.
The African Development Bank has several programmes in place in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, and has provided emergency support to countries facing drought.
More coordinated support and assistance is urgently needed.
In Ethiopia and Somalia, the delegation witnessed first-hand the dire situation facing millions of displaced people in the region.
As a result of prolonged drought and conflict, a large proportion of the population in the affected countries is in need of food assistance, as families face limited access to food and income, together with low cereal and seed stocks, and low milk and meat production.
Also, the Horn of Africa region – comprising Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Uganda – is one of the most climate-hazard prone and food insecure regions of the world.
“The recent drought and famine facing some countries (South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda) deserve swift action, as 20 million face food insecurity and severe malnutrition.