Efforts by Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) to ensure universal access to water and sanitation services by 2024 are being hindered by skills and funding shortfall, according to the company’s chief executive, Aime Muzola. “Like any other institution, we have been facing funding challenges but this time around the main component is capacity building in the sector which is also being addressed,” Muzola said. Yesterday, the agency received a Euro 115 million (Rwf116 billion) loan from the African Development Bank for the sustainable water supply and sanitation programme However, Muzola said, the funds are not sufficient to finance the agency’s seven year strategy, which targets universal access to water and sanitation. “We are moving toward our target of 2024 though this is not enough funding for the entire plan,” he said. The funds will go into improving water supply for about 1.5 million people, mostly in rural Rwanda. The loan, which will attract a 1.65 per cent interest rate, is the second funding of the sustainable water supply and sanitation programme supported by the African Development Bank. Last year, the bank released Euro 146.9 million for the same programme, which puts the total amount disbursed at Euro 261.9 million. Some 15 districts will benefit from the financing to improve their access to piped water as well as sanitary services. At the moment, water access to the 15 districts is estimated to be as low as 9 per cent in some areas with the average standing at 45 per cent. The AfDB Country Manager, Martha Phiri, said that the additional financing, among other things, brings the bank’s total injection to the sector to Euro 282 million. She said that increased investments in water and sanitation would, among other things, have a reciprocal effect by improving the socio-economic welfare of citizens. Among the biggest expenditures of the water and sanitation agency towards its 2024 targets include establishing infrastructure such as installation of water supply networks across the country and water pumping stations. The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, said that the sub-sector has multiple financing and capacity development partners. He said he was confident of government meeting its 2024 projections. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
