USAID Closes Water, Sanitation Program for Africa

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USAID Closes Water, Sanitation Program for Africa

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced closure of its six-year Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa (SUWASA) programme

The programme's goal was to improve and expand the delivery of water and sanitation services in urban and peri-urban settings in order to bring the countries closer to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The programme emphasised a response to the particular needs of the urban poor.

"In Uganda, the main objective of SUWASA was to support the Government, through the Directorate of Water Development (DWD), to design a regulatory framework for the urban water sector. This is an important document around which to convene the sector," said USAID Uganda Mission Director, Leslie Reed, at the closing ceremony held yesterday at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.

Reed added: "What does this translate into for the average Ugandan? This means Ugandans, and citizens of the other countries supported by SUWASA, will have more equitable and improved access to water supply and sanitation - and healthier communities because of it."

The closing ceremony brought together over 100 key participants, including policy-makers, chief executives and senior managers of water utilities, civil society stakeholders, SUWASA team leads, and USAID representatives.

The function focused on lessons learned in the design and implementation of urban water sector reform programs and provided a platform for discussion of commercial viability, long-term financing and sustainability, and the role of governance in resolving water and sanitation issues.

According to the 5th Water and Environment Sector Performance Report, access to improved water in Uganda reached only 70% of the urban population while urban sanitation access was at 82%.

The programme's accomplishments include articulating the rationale for the establishment of the regulator, defining the institutional framework of the regulatory body, developing a business and strategic plan for the regulatory agency and drafting the requisite legislation.

Source: NewVision

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