The African Development Fund has approved a $101 million loan to support Rwanda’s Sustainable and Resilient Water and Sanitation Program. The policy-based operation is designed to improve water governance, enhance access to water, and strengthen sanitation services across the country.
The program will focus on improving legal, policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks within Rwanda’s water and sanitation sector, ensuring more efficient delivery of basic services. The initiative is expected to significantly improve the quality of life for over 13.2 million Rwandans by providing better access to safe water and reliable sanitation services.
“This program will benefit millions of Rwandans, offering lasting access to essential water and sanitation services while also improving water resource management and governance,” said Osward Chanda, the Bank’s Director for Water Development and Sanitation, at the Board meeting where the loan was approved.
Several Rwandan government agencies, including the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning, Infrastructure, and Environment, as well as the Water and Sanitation Corporation, the Rwanda Water Resources Board, and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, will oversee the implementation of the program from this year until 2026.
This initiative is part of Rwanda’s larger Vision 2050 development plan, which aims to transform the country into a middle-income economy by 2035. The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) support for the program is also aligned with its broader Country Strategy for Rwanda (2022-2026) and the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, which focuses on inclusive growth and green development.
The program will contribute to three of the AfDB’s key priorities, known as the “High 5s”: improving the quality of life for Africans, ensuring food security, and advancing industrialization.
This latest project is one of many supported by the AfDB’s Water Development and Sanitation Department, as the institution continues to back Rwanda’s efforts in achieving sustainable development.
