AfDB aids Namibia water crisis with a $121.7m loan, 3-million-euro grant
One nation presently grappling
with a national water crisis due to severe droughts is Namibia.
The 2018/19 rainy season, one of
its driest since 1981, only received 50% or less of average seasonal rainfall,
thereby posing serious constraints to the southern African nation’s economic,
environmental and social development agenda.
And to help it out, the African
Development Bank (https://www.AfDB.org/en) has approved a $121.7m loan and 3
million euros grant from the Rural Water Supply Sanitation Initiative Trust
Fund to support Namibia’s Water Sector Support Program.
WSSP will facilitate sustainable
production and transfer of water resources to improve access to potable water
and for agricultural and industrial use. It will also enhance sanitation in
rural areas and enrich institutional capacity, sustainable management and
utilization.
In particular, it seeks to
increase access to sustainable water services from the current level of 85% and
sanitation services from 54% to the universal 100% target by 2030.
The program, to be implemented
over five years, entails the construction and rehabilitation of bulk water
infrastructure and associated fixtures, construction of water supply schemes
and climate resilient inclusive sanitation facilities, hygiene interventions
and institutional capacity building initiatives.
The program is building on
innovative technology in sanitation in Namibia which treats its wastewater in
Windhoek to potable standards and injects 30% of the recycled water into the
system for distribution to consumers. The program includes preparation of
studies and designs for direct potable water reclamation in Windhoek to
increase the existing capacity by 17,000 m3/day.
At completion in 2024, the
interventions will directly benefit estimated 1 million people and 250,000 indirect beneficiaries, mostly women. Rural
residents will gain better health from improved environmental and sanitary
conditions. Special focus will be given to vulnerable households within the
program areas for improved sanitation facilities. It will also provide job
opportunities and empower women and youth groups for possible business along
the water and sanitation value chain.
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