The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it has approved a $75 million loan to Angola to finance the first phase of the country’s Coastal Towns Inclusive Sanitation Project.

Development Diaries reports that Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), sponsored by China and administered by the bank, has also approved $49.4 million to co-finance the project.

According to the bank, the funds will help the country to improve access to climate-resilient and sustainable sanitation services in the coastal towns of Benguela, Baía Farta, Catumbela, and Lobito, with a combined population of 1.4 million.

SDG Six: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Figures from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) show that 49.3 percent of the Angolan population lacks access to clean drinking water and 54.7 percent of households do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities.

In a statement, AfDB noted that improving access to sanitation services is essential to satisfy the country’s growing population, urbanisation, and socioeconomic development health demands.

It is understood that the project is part of Angola’s Vision 2050 to promote sustainable and climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure and service.

The project area is an important economic and logistics hub for Angola.

AfDB Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Beth Dunford, said, ‘Safely managed sanitation is essential for a healthy and productive society and the decision of the Angola Government to invest more resources in sanitation is a bold move’.

The bank’s country manager for Angola, Pietro Toigo, said, ‘This project builds on a strong track record of joint investment in the water and sanitation sector by Angola and the African Development Bank to deliver better quality of life in its growing coastal cities’.

Photo source: AfDB