By: Isatou Jawara
The Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia yesterday launched The Climate Smart Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Development Project at Laico Atlantic Hotel.
The total cost of the project is estimated at GMD1 billion 884 million and is financed by the African Development Bank, the Rural Water and Sanitation Initiative Trust Fund, the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility.
The African Development Fund will provide grant of $10 million dollars and the government of the Gambia will contribute the equivalent of $386,000 (Three Eighty –Six thousand dollars.
The objective of the project is geared towards improving the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the rural and peri- urban population through improved access to sustainable WASH infrastructure and services in the Gambia. The project will be implemented over a period of approximately 63 months.
Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray, said that the project will contribute to the national development plan and the water sector goal and will increase sustainable access to safe water by 17% and access to safely managed sanitation by 2%.
She explained that the aims is to increase access to safe and sanitation water supply, sanitation and hygiene in the Gambia, targeting residents of rural and Peri urban Communities.
“It will also benefit the deprived urban Communities living with poor waste management practices in an environment facing increase climate change threats of flash flooding and periods of extreme drought,” she noted.
Mr Adam Amoumoun, African Development Bank Country Director noted that the Bank will continue supporting programs pursued by government which aims at enhancing development in a sustainable manner for the benefits of the Gambians
He commended the government and the key stakeholders for a great job to bring the project to this stage and hiring staffs to implement the project.
