The Rwanda Government has been endowed with funds worth USD 20million following a loan deal signed with OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).
The country will utilize the funds to boost the provision of water and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure in the capital city of Kigali and six other cities through the Rwanda Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (Phase II).
Proper execution of the project expectedly will advance the standards of living of about 1.6 million people which accedes with the government’s plans to alleviate poverty and augment the country’s development.
According to the OFID, the completion of the project will ensure access to water and proper sanitation hits 81 percent in Rwanda.
As part of the project, eight water supply systems will be constructed to feed 14 districts, there will also be the installation of 7,600 connections and the provision of sanitary facilities in 10 schools.
Rwanda’s Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente commented on the new agreement saying that the OPEC Fund’s contribution to Rwanda’s infrastructure will boost key sectors such as transport, energy, water supply, and sanitation to propel growth.
According to reports, OPEC Fund and Rwanda have had a perennial relationship since 1976. To date, the OPEC Fund has approved 27 loans for a total amount of about US$202 million.
The Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa lauded Rwanda for its remarkable progress which he said is an inspiration to many other countries.
He said, “We are able to support development projects via our public and private sector operations windows and will work with Rwanda as it continues on its journey of socio-economic transformation.”
