World Bank to implement $58 million clean water project in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE -- Households, schools and health clinics in the poorest regions of southern Tajikistan will gain access to improved water supply and sanitation services, thanks to the World Bank's Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project.

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors February 28 approved $58 million (550 million TJS) in grant financing for the project from the International Development Association, the Country Office for Tajikistan said in a statement.

"Safe drinking water and sanitation are among the most unequally distributed services in the country," Jan-Peter Olters, World Bank country manager for Tajikistan, said in the statement.

"A renewed focus on investments in high-quality water and sanitation services, along with adequate maintenance, will foster good health among the population and help prevent many children from experiencing bouts of diarrhea that can stunt physical growth and mental development," he said.

Rural deprivation

According to a recent study, only 36% of rural households in Tajikistan had access to safe drinking water in 2016, compared to 87% of urban households. More than one in five residents in rural areas rely on surface water as their main drinking water source, according to the statement.

In three out of four households, women and girls are solely responsible for water collection, which is physically challenging, and comes at the expense of education or employment.

Many rural schools have no funds for sanitation and hygiene activities, resulting in poor maintenance of water supply and sanitation facilities. Only half of rural schools have access to piped water, with almost 60% using pit latrines with slabs as toilets.

With the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project, more than 400,000 inhabitants will gain access to cleaner drinking water and about 100,000 inhabitants, mainly children, will benefit from investments in sanitation facilities and hygiene training in schools. Sanitation facilities in about 200 schools and health clinics will be constructed or rehabilitated.

Teaching hygiene

In partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Science, the project will also provide comprehensive extracurricular activities to promote the adoption of improved hygiene practices. Grants will be provided to about 1,000 of the poorest households to help improve sanitation conditions in their homes.

At the same time, the project will finance infrastructure improvements to connect rural households in Khatlon Province to basic water supply services and improve the quality of water supply services for existing connections.

The project focuses on the southern region because it is home to the highest proportion of residents living in poverty and deprived of clean water, sanitation and hygiene conditions. Seven districts are covered by the project: Vakhsh, Levakand (Sarband), Kushoniyon (Bokhtar), Dusti (Jilikul), Balkhi (Rumi), Jayhun (Qumsangir) and Vose.

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