Rwanda, alongside Cameroon, Ghana, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda, is set to benefit from a transformative project aimed at improving access to water in rural areas. The Empower Wash-Africa II programme, scheduled to run from November 2024 to 2026, will target 12 rural districts across the six countries, with two districts per country. The initiative aims to enhance Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services for over 500,000 beneficiaries, ensuring equitable and sustainable access to clean water and sanitation.
In Rwanda, the districts of Gicumbi and Rulindo have been selected to benefit from the project. With a budget of Rwf828 million, the initiative will focus on strengthening the capacity of rural municipalities to effectively manage WASH services. This includes addressing the critical challenge of improving the resilience of WASH systems in the face of climate change, ensuring that communities can maintain access to water even during environmental disruptions.
Gemma Maniraruta, the Director General in Charge of Water and Sanitation at the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), highlighted the project’s focus on reviving non-functional water supply systems. “There are 430 water supply systems countrywide that are no longer operating. Gicumbi and Rulindo districts are part of the areas where such systems need to be improved. Residents will regain access to water supply, and the project will also create jobs,” she said. The initiative is expected to significantly reduce waterborne diseases caused by poor hygiene and lack of access to clean water.
Despite progress, many households in Rwanda still face water shortages. Recent statistics from the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) reveal that over 44% of water supplied within different networks is lost. For instance, between December 2019 and March 2020, 12.9 million cubic meters of water were supplied into the network, but only 7.1 million cubic meters were billed, leaving 5.8 million cubic meters lost and unbilled. The Empower Wash-Africa II programme aims to tackle these inefficiencies, ensuring that more water reaches those who need it most.
