World Bank funds water infrastructure project in Burkina Faso

The World Bank has approved a $80m grant from the International Development Association (IDA) for financing the ongoing Burkina Faso Urban Water Sector Project (UWSP) in West Africa.

The funds will be used by the country to improve access to clean water and sanitation services for individuals suffering from poverty in the urban communities surrounding Ouagadougou, the country’s capital.

Improving the water distribution system in the area is likely to ensure quality and steady availability of potable water.

The upgrade work will involve construction of secondary and tertiary water distribution pipes, along with setting up of around 26,000 water service connections and 80 public standpipes.

From its initiation in 2009, UWSP has been successful in offering 434,000 additional people access to piped water and 403,000 additional people access to improved sanitation services.

Upgrade to the project is likely to help around 1.1 million urban residents and those living in informal settlements in and around Ouagadougou.

World Bank country manager for Burkina Faso Mercy Tembon said: "Working together with ONEA, the UWSP project has made great achievements in increasing the distribution of clean water to urban areas.

"However, Ouagadougou’s recent population growth has created unanticipated challenges in providing water to its residents, many of whom are low-income families.

"Today’s additional financing will build on the original project’s positive momentum by helping to improve the city’s water transmission/distribution system, which is vital to expanding capacity to provide clean water for both new and existing customers."

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Image: Nakambe River, Burkina Faso: Photo: courtesy of Neonstar.