The African Development Bank (ADB) has released a $25m grant to the government of Rwanda to ensure sustainable supply of drinking water and sanitation services in rural areas.

The project targets to supply drinking water to 216 rural communities in the west, north and southern Provinces.

It also seeks to  improve household sanitation services in rural communities, and community sanitation services in 15 districts which account for over 5 million of the country’s population.

The grant agreement was signed on Thursday by James Musoni, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning  and Diko Mukete, ADB Resident Representative at the Ministry’s head office in Kigali.

The funds under  National Programme of Water Supply and Sanitation in Rural areas has the objective to improve the availability  and quality of drinking water, reduce water born diseases, water costs and improve the supply of household sanitation services.

This is the  second phase of this project that will cover three years (2009-2012).

Mukete said that the total funding comprises $15m from African Development Fund (ADF) and $10m from the Rural Water Supply and sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) which will cover 79 percent.

The government of Rwanda and beneficiary communities will contribute $5 million.

The funds in the second phase increased by 20 percent compared to the first phase from $20m to $25m.

The first phase has registered a total cumulative disbursement to 95 percent and physical implementation at 95 percent and targeting 100 percent at the end of this year.

The first phase of this project surpassed its target of benefiting 10,000 with sanitation facilities to 15,000 and increased water access from 64 percent in 2004 to 73 percent last year.

"ADB is proud to work with the Government of Rwanda because of its improved public financial management system, every penny put in Rwanda is not only accounted for but used effectively,” Mukete said.

Musoni hailed ADB for its contribution to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals and the country’s vision 2020.

"This grant will enable the country implement its integrated water resources management which seeks to enable total access to drinking water for rural populations,” Musoni said. 

According to the press statement, the project will construct 16,000 new individual latrines for the most vulnerable families, 130 new multi-compartment latrines and 100 storm-water harvesting reservoirs in schools, health centres and other public places.

It will also provide drinking water supply network covering 150km, train 200 district borehole drillers in maintenance of water facilities and the development of 1000 drinking water supply sources.

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