As part of efforts to improve access to climate-resilient and sustainable sanitation services in four coastal towns in Angola, the African Development Bank (AfDB) recently signed two loan agreements with the Angolan government.
Development Diaries reports that the agreements, which are for a U.S.$75 million loan from the bank, and $49.4 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), are expected to benefit Benguela, Baía Farta, Catumbela and Lobito.
Angolan finance minister, Vera Daves de Sousa and African Development Bank Country Manager for Angola, Pietro Toigo, signed the agreements in Luanda, Angola.
SDG Six: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Sustainable access to better water and sanitation facilities is still a problem in Angola, despite the government’s recent investments in this infrastructure.
Figures from World Vision reveal that access to clean drinking water is a problem for 49.3 percent of Angola’s population.
Also, more than half of schools (54.7 percent) lack access to basic sanitary facilities, and the majority (68.6 percent) lack on-site hand-washing facilities.
It is understood that the coastal towns inclusive sanitation project is part of the Angolan government’s efforts to improve water and sanitation service delivery in line with its vision 2050.
‘The government of Angola took a momentous step forward to promote clean and hygienic living conditions for communities in the four coastal towns’, AfDB Country Manager for Angola, Pietro Toigo, said.
‘We are delighted to be launching an innovative integrated project that combines elements of infrastructure investment, support to private sector operators; community-led sanitation and governance to improve the sustainability of public utilities’.
The project, in addition to addressing critical sanitation issues, includes the construction of sewage reticulations, wastewater and faecal sludge treatment plants, improving the sanitation value chains, and capacity building.
Photo source: AfDB
