Contacts In Baku: Saida Bagirli (+994 12) 4921941, sbagirli@worldbank.org In Washington: Steven Jouy (+1 202) 473 4215, sjouy@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, June 14, 2007¾The World Bank today approved a US$230 million National Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Azerbaijan. The project aims to improve the quality of water supply and sanitation services in at least twenty regional centers (rayons) across the country. The quality of water and sanitation infrastructure and services in many secondary and small towns in Azerbaijan has deteriorated severely over the years as a result of age, limited capital investment, and poor maintenance of facilities. These conditions pose a threat to public health and increase the risk of environmental degradation. The project builds upon the recently completed Greater Baku Water Supply Project (GBWSP) and continues the World Bank’s long-term support to the improvement of Azerbaijan’s water and sanitation sector. It focuses on the rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation facilities in and around urban centers of the country, and supports key reforms to modernize sector institutions in order to improve their capacity, institutional and operational effectiveness, and commercial and financial viability. “Addressing the critical needs in Azerbaijan’s water supply and sanitation sector in a sustainable manner calls for a multi-pronged approach that combines the much needed significant investments in infrastructure, with comprehensive measures to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness through capacity building and modernization of sector institutions”, said Andreas Rohde, head of the team that designed the project. “This project is an important operation under the new Country Partnership Strategy between the World Bank and Azerbaijan, which seeks to promote balanced growth in the non-oil economy and ensure the welfare of current and future generations through, among other things, investment in infrastructure services and reforms in the utility sectors including water supply”, said Gregory Jedrzejczak, Country Manager for Azerbaijan. The project has three components: The Rayon Investment component finances the rehabilitation and extension of water supply and sewerage systems along with wastewater and septic sludge treatment facilities in at least twenty rayons. The Regional Development Plan for Greater Baku component finances the formulation of a Regional Development Plan for Greater Baku, which will provide the framework for future infrastructure investments (including water and sewerage investments) across the Absheron Peninsula. The Institutional Modernization component supports the development and implementation of key reforms needed for the modernization of Azersu and its subsidiary companies, as well as to the State Amelioration and Water Management Agency in Nakhchivan, in order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of Water Supply and Sanitation services. By the time the project is completed, at least 700,000 people in the rayons are expected to have improved access to safe and reliable piped water supply, and to wastewater collection and disposal services. Azerbaijan joined the World Bank in 1992. Since then, commitments to the country total approximately US$1, 057 million for 37 operations. ### For more information about the World Bank's work in Azerbaijan, please visit http://www.worldbank.org/az |
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