WB extends USD 44.9m credit to Tanzania's water projects

By Mashaka Mgeta

World Bank

The World Bank (WB) has approved a US$44.9 million credit to expand access to safe water and sanitation services in the country through improved management of the country’s natural water resources for the poor in rural and urban communities.


The credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and which was approved by the WB’s Board of Executive Directors provides additional funds to primarily scale-up the components of the ongoing Water Sector Support Project (WSSP).

Press statement released recently by the WB in Washington disclosed that the project was designed to provide safe water and sanitation facilities for rural and urban residents, and support institutions to facilitate efficient, integrated management of the country’s water resources.

Approved by the Board in 2007, the WSSP was contributing to the first phase of the Tanzania Water Sector Development Program (WSDP) which spans a 20 year period from 2006-2025.

The program was supported by Tanzanian government and multiple development partners and has already delivered key development results, such as the completion of sub-projects in 918 villages.

According to the WM, the respective sub-projects include 26,468 new or rehabilitated water points to benefit 6.7 million rural people.

Other achievements include, support to water utilities to increase access to 2.8 million urban dwellers, and support to local governments to improve sanitation for 180,000 households or approximately 900,000 people.

WB Country Director for Tanzania, Philippe Dongier, said the WSSP is providing equitable access to water and sanitation facilities, which are key factors for better health and improved quality of life for poor people in the country.

Dongier disclosed that after a slow start, implementation of WSDP has significantly accelerated during the last two years and it’s currently producing impressive results in increasing access to water supply in both rural and urban areas.

The scaling up of the WSSP will enable the WSDP benefit 8 million rural and 3 million urban people in the entire Tanzania.

In particular, the WSSP is expected to improve water service through the construction of 5,279 additional water points in 628 villages.
This will include 49 multi village schemes, or about 938 new water points, and will provide water to 234,624 rural people.

Yitbarek Tessema, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project said, the WSDP will enable girls and women to spend less time fetching water for their families and more time being involved in education and economic activities. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN