Rwanda’s Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program has received a further €115 million boost from the African Development Bank to help the country give 1.5 million people access to improved, reliable and sustainable water supply services. 

The funding will cover strategic cities and address water and sanitation challenges in areas with a low access rate of 45%, a figure that is way below the national average of 85%.

The new financing is to scale up the country’s largest water and sanitation sector investment program. The program is co-financed by the European Investment Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development.

Enhancing resilience to climate change

In November 2017, the Bank approved an initial US$121 million loan and US$50 million Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF) loan to Rwanda under its Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program.

“The Bank’s support to this program further goes to deepen and consolidate the impact of its investments in enhancing resilience to climate change and inclusive growth,” says Wambui Gichuri, the Bank’s Director for Water Development and Sanitation.

Partnering for development

According to the bank, which is the main development partner in Rwanda’s water and sanitation sector, the Government of Rwanda has shown consistent commitment to sector reforms and economic transformation in furtherance of its recently-approved National Strategy for Transformation − designed to propel Rwanda into an upper middle-income country by 2035.

The program is bolstered by the country’s new Vision 2050, which aims to ensure a high standard of living for all Rwandans.

Of the 1.5 million people to be provided water access under the additional funding, 700 000 live in peri-urban or rural areas.