Media Contacts:
In Washington Sharon Cox (202) 473-2035
In Mozambique Adelia Chebeia (258-1) 492 841
Operational Contact:
In Washington Jane Walker (202) 458 2703 |
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WASHINGTON, June 17, 1999 — The World Bank today approved a US$75 million credit to help support the Republic of Mozambique improve the quality, reliability, and sustainability of its water services. The credit was approved within the framework of the National Water Development Project II.
In 1995 Mozambique adopted a National Water Policy which outlined a comprehensive sector strategy for the development of its water resources. The National Water Development Project II will provide continued support continue to support thfor this strategy. e Government’s comprehensive sector strategy outlined in the National Water Policy which was adopted in 1995. The project will initially target the capital city of cities of Maputo and four others––, Beira, Quelimane, Nampula and Pemba–– where, in all five, the quality of water services is poor. This will be addressed in the following ways: through:
- Restructuring the institutional and regulatory framework within the urban water sector by introducing commercial principles in the operation and management of water services;
- Using a private sector operator that will engage in a lease contract for Maputo and a management contract for each of the remaining four cities;
- Providing an institutional framework that will seek to improve the quality and sustainability of water services, as these begin to be decentralized to municipal based management.
Only 32 percent of Mozambique’sWith a population of 16.9 million inhabitants , of which approximately 32 percent have access to safe water. The , the project will directly benefit an estimated 1.1 million people in the five cities. The project is expected to benefit more cities under the new institutional framework for the provision of water supply. Access to water in some cases is currently Currently access to water is limited to a few hours per day. In addition, many receive irregular, low-pressure water supply that is ies of poor microbiological quality. The use of the private sector will be an essential tool in enabling the government to improve and expand urban water services in an accelerated and efficient manner.
The US$75 million equivalent credit for the National Water Development Project II is being provided through will be financed by a US$75 million equivalent credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's lending arm for the poorest countries. The Mozambican Government, the African Development Bank, and the Netherlands will co-finance this project with an additional US$40 million. |
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