Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene December 2018 Vol.13 No.6 | Page 6

NEWS in brief
project aims to
expand access to
adequate water
and sanitation
services for all
citizens
and
to
contribute
to
economic
development
and
poverty
alleviation in Eswatini.
The Manzini region is the most populous region in
eSwatini, but it is beset by inadequate water supply and poor
sanitation services. Only 22% of the population receive
reliable water services from the water utility, eSwatini Water
Services Corporation (EWSC), and only 35% have access to
improved sanitation services.
The project will improve the livelihoods of more than 67,000
inhabitants in the four peri-urban areas of the Manzini
region, namely Nhlambeni, Manzini South, Mthongwaneni,
and Mafutseni. This is through expanding adequate safe
water and improved sanitation services to more than 90%
and 75% in the project beneficiary areas respectively.
The project meets the drinking water requirements of
Manzini and surrounding areas and reduces the risk of
environmental pollution of the ground water through the
provision of appropriate sanitation services. The project
will also catalyse social and economic transformation in the
area.
“Access to safe water and good sanitation is a fundamental
right for all people. This project not only allows the people of
eSwatini to enjoy their right to water and sanitation, but also
sets them on a path to social and economic transformation”,
said Josephine Ngure, Deputy Director General, Southern
Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office.
The project will be implemented over a period of four years,
at a total cost of ZAR 807.5 million.
According to Gladys Wambui Gichuri, Director of Water
and Sanitation, the African Development Bank Group
is committed to supporting the Government of eSwatini
in its efforts to realize its Vision 2022 and Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) regarding the provision of
essential services for water supply and sanitation. “The Bank
is confident that the approved resources will complement
the Government’s efforts towards development goals.”
The project is aligned with eSwatini’s Vision 2022, and
its National Development Strategy, and to Pillar I of the
Bank’s Country Strategy Paper (2014-2018) supporting
infrastructure development for sustainable and inclusive
growth. The project is also consistent with the Bank’s Ten
Year Strategy (2013-2022) focussing on the High 5s priorities,
mainly on improving the quality of life of Africans.
6
Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • December 2018
Around Africa
Mauritania
On track to beating drinking water shortages
Thanks
to
joint efforts by
development
partners
including
the African
Development
Bank, which
invested
US$45.7 million between 2003 and 2014 in water supply
and sanitation projects, Mauritania is working to provide
access to drinking water for its 4.3-million population,
which regularly suffers severe shortages.
Key figures for this project
• US$45.7 million: the total amount invested by the
African Development Bank in the Mauritanian water
and sanitation sector
• 180,000: the number of additional people, living in 450
villages in the areas of M’bout, Monguel and Barkéol,