The Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Dr. Sahar Nasr stated that the EB’s Executive Council unanimously approved supporting Egypt with USD 300 million to complete the “Sustainable Rural Sanitation Services Program” within the framework of the government’s efforts to increase the provision of sanitation services and improve them in rural areas in Egypt’s lagging regions. She pointed out that the WB’s decision reflected its confidence in the priority given by Egypt’s political leadership to this vital sector as well as the WB’s belief in reforms taken by the government to make a quantum leap in the sanitation services in line with Egyptians’ aspirations.
She indicated that the WB’s decision represented its full support of Egypt’s economic and social reform efforts and its full conformity with the Egyptian vision that economic reforms necessitated parallel reforms that target enhancing the social safety nets for the poor and limited-income people and conducting inclusive development for the social service system, topped by the housing and sanitation sectors.
Further, the Minister stated that the project aimed to complete sanitation services for approximately 892 thousand citizens in lagging villages in the governorates of Sharqiya, Dakahliya, Damietta, Gharbiya and Menoufiya, thus the number of beneficiaries would reach about 1.710.000 citizens.
As mentioned by the Minister, the program started in 2015 with funding worth USD 550 million to support the national program adopted by the Egyptian government, which focuses on decentralizing and delivering sanitation services to households in lagging villages.
“Ensuring equal access to basic services is essential to achieve inclusive growth which is acknowledged by Egypt by the launch of its ambitious program. We care proud to support such efforts believing that investing in the human capital or in the people’s health and education is the most important investment in the long term,” stated Samya Mosadik, WB’s Acting Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti.
“The program aims to enhance capacities of institutions affiliated to the sector in providing services,” stated Mr. Osama Ahmed, Senior Expert of Water and Waste Water series at the WB and Chairman of the Program’s Teamwork.
