KfW: Water and sanitation programme inaugurated in Somaliland

A new spirit of optimism pervades Hargeisa, as new residential and office buildings are being built on every corner. In the presence of the Federal Commissioner for Africa, Günter Nooke, a water and sanitation programme was inaugurated on 4 March, which KfW is supporting with FC funds of around EUR 33 million on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 400,000 people will benefit directly from the project.

Population growth is high. Adding to this challenge are the many refugees from Eritrea and Yemen who have come to the country in recent years. Many districts are completely undersupplied in terms of water and sanitary facilities.

Corresponding networks and facilities are now being expanded or newly built with FC funds. The project-executing agency for the water supply, the Hargeisa Water Agency (HWA), will be supported in introducing tariffs that cover the costs and are socially affordable, and in selecting private water kiosk operators. The urban management municipality of Hargeisa, which is responsible for inner-city sanitation, is also contractually involved in the project.

In a second component, a concept for sustainable land management in the Hargeisa catchment area is being promoted via the responsible Ministry of Agriculture, including soil and erosion control measures such as earth walls, sickle terraces (small semi-circular stone terraces), rainwater reservoirs and rainwater retention basins. This should increase water retention in the catchment area and at the same time create new prospects for the population living there. In Somaliland, about 85% of the population earn their living from livestock farming. But only three percent of the land area is used for crop production. The first successes of erosion control measures are already visible on site and cooperation with local partners is very promising. Total costs for both components amount to EUR 33 million.

Original source: KfW
Published on 11 March 2019