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“The government of Ethiopia has made steady progress in building a sustainable water system to provide access to clean water for many households,” Guang Zhe Chen, World Bank country director for Ethiopia, said.
“We are happy to support this project that will bring improved health and water security to the rural and urban poor in Ethiopia, contributing to the country’s rapid progress in meeting the millennium development goals related to water and sanitation access.”
The funds, which were approved last week, are expected to support the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Project, designed to contribute to meeting Ethiopia’s One WASH National Programme (OWNP) and Growth and Transformation targets of 100 per cent access to water and 84 per cent improvement in household latrines by 2015.
The project will finance the construction of about 6,300 rural water schemes and rehabilitation and expansion of water supply systems for about 70 towns.
The project will also finance the improvement of water supply for health clinics and schools.
“Providing access to safe and sufficient water and improved sanitation and hygiene is essential for improving the health, well-being, and productivity of vulnerable populations,” Tesfaye Bekalu, the World Bank task team leader for the project, said.
“The project will also contribute to income generation by helping secure sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable people and catalysing economic growth.”
The project is expected to connect approximately 2 million people to the formal water supply system in rural and urban areas.
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Filed under: Ag Related Tagged: Agriculture, Drinking water, Ethiopia, Investment, Millennium Development Goals, Sub-Saharan Africa, tag1, World Bank
