RWANDA
Bringing water to the land of 1,000 hills
A s Kigali expands ever-further eastwards, the Rwandan government is increasingly focused on providing safe and reliable water to the residents and businesses of its capital city. With the population expected to grow from 1.1 million people in 2012 to 3.8 million by 2050, and with demand already outpacing supply, water is now a clear priority under the national “master plan”. Key to this plan is the Karenge Water Treatment Plant, which is presently being upgraded thanks to a US$52 million loan from Exim Bank of Hungary under phase one of the project signed in November 2021. Capacity is set to increase fourfold during this phase, rising from 12,000 to 48,000 m 3 of water per day; the ultimate aim is to provide 120,000 m 3 /day. Phase two involves the expansion of water transmission and distribution
systems, funded by a consortium of partners including the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the Abu Dhabi Fund and the Saudi Fund for Development. The OPEC Fund is contributing a loan of just over US$21 million, destined for distribution reservoirs and pipelines, engineering studies and the supervision of works. OPEC Fund Country Manager Sonia Siserova and Senior Environmental Specialist Gerardo Parco joined an appraisal mission in late July, touring project sites around the Karenge water treatment plant and its main source, Lake Mugesera, 40 km southeast of the capital. Also present were several co-financiers and representatives from Rwanda’s ministries of finance and infrastructure. Under its ambitious plans, the government aims to ensure universal access to basic water supply and
sanitation services by 2024 — six years ahead of the UN SDG 6 targets. Ultimately, more than 800,000 people are set to benefit from the project by 2035, with clear gains expected in agricultural productivity, sustainable resource management, health services and gender-focused employment. “Rwanda is very progressive when it comes to gender,” said Sonia Siserova. “So, the job creation resulting from this project will involve a minimum 30 percent of females — guaranteed by law.”
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