Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Initiative
The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) is one of the main initiatives of the Bank to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa. It was initiated in 2002 to address the problem of low access to water supply and sanitation in rural Africa where the majority of the population lives. Its overall objective is to increase coverage in rural areas from present 47% and 44% for water and sanitation respectively, to 80% by 2015. To meet this target, an additional 270m people will need to gain access to improved water supply and 300m to adequate sanitation facilities. The total investment required to meet this objective is estimated at US$ 14.2bn, of which the Bank is contributing US$ 4.2bn, or 30% of the total. It was proposed that other donors, governments and local communities would contribute respectively 50%, 15% and 5% of total requirements.
Of the US$ 14.2 bn, US$ 9.7bn is for providing water supply infrastructure and associated investments; US$ 4.4bn is for provision of sanitation; and US$ 95.5 million is for programme preparation and other facilitation tasks.
Three phases of implementation were considered.
The first phase (2005-2007) had a coverage target of 50% and this was estimated to cost US$ 4.6 bn.
The second phase (2008-2010) with a target of 66% coverage is estimated to cost USS$ 4.2 bn.
Third phase (2011-2015) with a coverage target of 80% is estimated to cost USS$ 5.4 bn.
RWSSI Strategy
The strategy of the Initiative relies on three pillars:
Programming approach
By supporting global investment programs rather than isolated projects, the Bank aims at fostering the development of long term rural water and sanitation strategies. The program level approach enhances consistency, country ownership and synergies.
Partnership
The Initiative provides a platform for leveraging technical and financial resources from donors, governments and the civil society. This has been demonstrated by the creation in 2005 of the RWSSI Trust Fund, to which Denmark, France, Netherlands and others have committed US$135m.
Coordination
The RWSSI contributes to creating programs agreed by all stakeholders, enhancing coordination between them and sharing best practices.
RWSSI Progress
Since the start of RWSSI programme in 2003, 20 programs have been approved with the total financing of USD 2.15 billion of which the Bank contributed close to USD 847 million from ADF resources, financed about USD 75m from the RWSSI Trust Fund and leveraged USD 1.2 billion from other donors, governments and beneficiaries. The total pledged funds to the RWSSI Trust Fund is USD 130.5 million of which about USD 75 million has been committed in funding to date.
By 2010, these ongoing RWSSI programmes are expected to extend access to safe water supply to some 32 million people in rural Africa and about 31 million with adequate sanitation. The rural population served with safe water supply and adequate sanitation services by the RWSSI increased from about 1,2 million and 600,000 people respectively in 2007 to about 3,3 million people for water and 1,7 million people for sanitation by end of June 2008.
Values of the RWSSI Programmes approved since 2003 is shown in the bar chart.
Overall contributions made for implementation of Phase 1 fell short of target by 30%. This means an intensive mobilization effort for phase 2 of the RWSSI in order to meet Phase 2 target of 66% access.
Some RWSSI Achievements
Burkina Faso’s national water supply program
The Initiative supported the development of long term and consistent country programs to provide access to water and sanitation in rural areas. For instance, the Bank financed and advised on Burkina Faso’s national water supply program, helping mainstream its rural component.
Senegal’s Borehole User Association model
The RWSSI contributed to identifying key best practices and sharing them among stakeholders. In Senegal, the program adopted the Borehole User Association model for operating and maintaining the entire water supply infrastructure in the country. These associations are elected and need to meet minimum qualification criteria. They are responsible for ensuring the technical and financial sustainability of the service. This model has a highly satisfactory record both in Senegal and Burkina Faso.
Rapid completion in Uganda
By emphasizing institutional capacity building, coordination and ownership, the RWSSI program in Uganda achieved 40% of disbursement in 2 years, providing access to water to 700,000 people.
Challenges and perspectives on the way forward
To achieve the goals of the Initiative, the Bank and the RWSSI Trust Fund are building on past successes and lessons learned from the challenges faced. Among the major challenges is inadequate implementation capability. Part of the Bank’s response is to scale up its support to capacity building and coordination activities.
The other challenge is the financing gap between the required and already secured financing to achieve the coverage of 80% by 2015, which remains considerable. Therefore, additional inputs such as enhanced contributions to the RWSSI Trust Fund are crucial to achieve the desired impact on poverty in African countries.