Details of the Project

Taget Area Map

Project Background

The concept of grouped settlement called "imidugudu" in Kinyarwanda was not one of the customs of Rwanda, but the government promoted this concept due to effectiveness in infrastructure development. UNDP's press release briefly explains this program as, "The Imidugudu program is an initiative of the Government of National Unity to resettle the rural population in villages where vital utilities like water and electricity, and security of person and property, can be provided to them with more ease than in scattered, often isolated rural settlements. The program was also initiated as a measure for more effective land use in view of the fact that Rwanda has the highest population density in Africa and its population is set to double by the year 2020." This program is supported by Ministerial directive which declared, in January 1997, that "Building on a plot other than Imidugudu is hereby prohibited." The Districts, who are the executing bodies, are developing Imidugudu by procuring land through assistance from UNHCR and NGOs.

Since rainfall in the target area is 25% less than other areas and residents had to move from lowlands where drinking water was easily available to higher lands, the actual situation is that not all imidugudu residents are supplied with safe water. Residents who cannot procure safe water must rely on unsanitary surface waters and stored water for their domestic use which can have inferior effects on health.

First formulated in 1992, then revised in 1997 and 2001, the water and sanitation policy was finally formulated in 2004 as a guideline for effective use of resources. This policy promotes concepts new to Rwanda such as decentralization, participatory approach, privatization and fund allocation through program approach. The policy is also related to MDG and Vision 2020 with objectives of safe water and sanitation services to all residents, and considers regional and international coordination of water resources management and environmental matters. The final policy approved in 2004 was formulated as a result of discussions with internal and external organizations related to water and sanitation.

In order to attain objectives of MDG and Vision 2020, the Rwandan government formulated the National Program for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (PNEAR: Programme national d'alimentation en eau potable et assainessement en milieu rural) as a government policy. The goals of this program are as follows.

* Accessibility to safe water of Project area is 31%

The approach of PNEAR is based on community demand and governmental decentralization policy, and aims to manage infrastructures through participation of beneficiaries and decentralized organizations.

According to Vision 2020, by the year 2020, the government will make Rwanda a country where, (1) all of the population can access potable water; (2) people master the ways to collect and keep rainwater for both domestic and agricultural uses; (3) mountain forests, the natural water reservoir, will be rehabilitated and carefully managed; (4) water resources will be rationally and comprehensively managed in line with the master plan for national land use; (5) people will secure well-balanced and sustainable measures to manage water; and (6) every water-related infrastructure for production, protection, distribution and sanitation is protected and maintained properly.

As assistance to the Rwandan government to cope with the above issues, the Japanese government dispatched a team for project formulation in 2005 and the following program was prepared.

As Phase 1 of Program 1 above, a short-term expert for rural water supply project implementation capacity strengthening was dispatched from July to November 2006. In Phase 2, an effective collaboration between the grant aid project and the present technical cooperation project can assure a highly efficient cooperation. In the grant aid project, construction and rehabilitation of 16 water supply schemes located in 21 Secteurs of 4 Districts are planned, and assistance on formulation of an effective operation and maintenance system for Districts, Secteurs and Regies (water management committees) is also included.