This $20 million recipient-executed project aims to improve the access to and quality of water and sanitation services in selected growth centers, improve water resources planning and support the reform of the water sector nationally.
The focus on small town growth centers reflects a gap in donor financing for this subsector. The growth centers set to benefit are drawn from Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) catchment centers, which are Lupane, Madziwa, Zimunya, Gutu, Nembudziya, Guruve and Mataga. The project will be accompanied by a WBG-executed grant to finance supervision over the life of the four-year project of $0.8 million.
The project builds on earlier work under the Zimbabwe Analytical Multi-Donor Trust Fund to review dams and water systems in Zimbabwe. The design of the project was supported also by the trust fund to prepare an assessment of 50 small town water systems, select the geographic focus of this project, and prepare detailed engineering designs.
The main counterparts are the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the National Water Resources Master Plan, and Ministry of Rural Development and Preservation of Culture for support to the local governments – rural district councils. Within the WBG, this program is supported by the Water, Environment and Climate Change global practices.