Rédaction Africa Links 24 with NewDawn
Published on 2024-03-01 10:22:01
The African Development Fund’s Board of Directors in Abidjan made a significant contribution of $46.02 million to Ethiopia for the implementation of Phase 2 of the Borana Resilient Water Development for Improved Livelihoods Program in southern Ethiopia. This donation aims to enhance access to sustainable, climate-smart, gender-sensitive water supply and sanitation services for pastoral communities in the arid lands of the Borana area, located in the Oromia region.
The Borana region, with an estimated population of 1.2 million people, half of whom are women, relies heavily on pastoralism for their livelihoods. However, they face challenges due to fluctuating rainfall levels and recurring droughts, leading to water scarcity. The region witnessed the loss of over 3.3 million livestock in March 2023, leaving 67,000 households without a source of income. These climate impacts also exacerbate tensions over land and water resources, leading to conflicts among pastoralist communities.
Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President of Agriculture, Human, and Social Development, highlighted the significance of this program in a context where the effects of climate change are becoming more pronounced, resulting in livestock losses, conflicts, and limited access to pastures and water sources.
The African Development Fund grant will primarily focus on enhancing water production and transportation systems across more than 85 kilometers of the region. It aims to construct nine reservoirs, distribution systems covering 142.6 kilometers, and connections to provide 36,000 new users access to clean drinking water. Additionally, the program will install 99 watering troughs for nearly 109,000 livestock. The initiative will also support property acquisitions, oversee construction activities, and reduce climate risks associated with the provision of multi-purpose water supply services.
Osward Chanda, Director of Water Development and Sanitation at the African Development Bank Group, emphasized the program’s role in addressing the increasing water demand in the Borana region while mitigating the impacts of drought through the development of essential water infrastructure, capacity building, and enhanced service delivery for sustainable and climate-resilient water provision.
Furthermore, the program will modernize sanitary facilities in schools and health centers, construct public sanitary facilities, conduct hygiene awareness campaigns, and provide technical assistance on regulating water services at the regional and district levels. To ensure the maintenance of rural water supply systems, the program will facilitate the establishment of a rural water utility to develop appropriate tariffs for operating and maintaining the new facilities.
The program’s beneficiaries are rural and peri-urban communities in the Borana area, comprising mainly pastoralists and low-income households, with a special focus on women and youth. Approximately 35,816 individuals, half of whom are women, will benefit from improved water supply services, while around 21,000 people, at least half of whom are women, will enjoy better access to basic sanitation services.
Through its comprehensive approach to water and sanitation infrastructure development, capacity building, and awareness campaigns, the Borana Resilient Water Development program aims to enhance community livelihoods, foster sustainable water management practices, and support climate resilience in the region.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
