WASHINGTON, May 31, 2012 –The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA*) additional financing of US$150 million in support of the Government of Ethiopias’ (GoE) efforts to provide urban citizens with enhanced sanitation services and achieve universal water supply coverage by 2015.
In its Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), the GoE has recognized the role of urbanization in economic and social development, and puts a priority on building the necessary urban infrastructure to support rapid and equitable growth of urban centers. It also emphasizes the importance of giving due attention to improving urban sanitation amenities in order to create suitable living and working environment.
Since its launch in 2007, the Urban Water and Sanitation Services Project (UWSSP) has been supporting, the GoE in the provision of improved access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to its citizens which the government considers as key contributors to improving citizens’ living standards and developing their human potential. So far, over 1 million people have benefitted from the production and supply of the additional 58,000 M3/day water and from the improvement in operational efficiency of utilities under the project.
“The project will increase access to improved sanitation facilities for around 1.5 million mainly low- income, urban residents in Addis Ababa, Gondar, Hawassa, Jimma, Mekelle and Diredawa, by promoting household latrines, hygiene and sanitation practices and constructing communal sanitation facilities. Rapid urbanization is transforming water consumption patterns of urban residents in cities like Addis Ababa, resulting in a substantial increase in the generation of waste water. In response to this demand, the project will also upgrade the waste water treatment system.” said Guang Z. Chen World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia.
As a result of the UWSSP, water production will increase from 210,000 to 360,000 M3/day (50 to 75 lpcd) in Addis Ababa city and from 23,500 to 50,000 M3/day (30 to 50 lpcd) in the five secondary cities. The water distribution network will be extended to serve 400,000 more people (40,000 connections) in Addis Ababa and 500,000 more people (50,000 connections) in the five secondary cities. The project will also instill awareness of water conservation among customers.
“In addition to the provision of enhanced water and sanitation services, the project will help to substantially reduce water loss. If we look at Addis Ababa, at the beginning of the project, out of the 50 liters per capita per day (lpcd) produced, only 35 lpcd reached consumers due to water losses. In the remaining cities only 20 of the 30 lpcd produced reached consumers.” said Yitbarek Tessema, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the project.
The additional support will be used to fill financing gaps, expand services and scale up the project’s impact and development effectiveness. The Ministry of Water and Energy (MOWE) will coordinate project activities for Hawassa, Gondar, Jimma, Mekelle and Dire Dawa Water Supply and Sewerage Enterprises. Addis Ababa Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) will implement the Addis component of the project.
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing loans (called “credits”) and grants for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 81 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 108 countries. Annual commitments have increased steadily and averaged about $15 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent of commitments going to Africa.
