Post by ADB on Aug 28, 2005 7:45:50 GMT -5
ADB Approves $10 Million Grant to Improve Water Supply, Urban Environment in Lao PDR Small Towns
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (26 August 2005) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$10 million grant to help provide safe and reliable water supplies and improve the urban environment for up to 100,000 residents of small towns in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).
The project will help improve the accessibility, quality, reliability, and sustainability of water supply services in about 12 small towns in the country's Northern and Central regions by developing new water sources and constructing optimal-sized water supply systems using appropriate technologies.
To complement these, the project will help improve the environmental conditions in these towns by rehabilitating and improving selected urban facilities including sanitation, drainage, roads, and bridges. In addition, the project will enhance awareness of public hygiene and motivate the public to participate in village improvement initiatives.
To ensure the sustainability of the project, the management and regulation of the sector will be strengthened through capacity-building activities and by enhancing the regulatory framework, such as strengthening the legal foundation for the Water Supply Authority's role as a sector regulator and establishing a regular source of financing for its activities.
"The institutional framework, particularly the regulatory framework, established and strengthened under the project, is responsive to the recent decentralization of the water supply sector and aims to lay a sound foundation for the sector's long term development," says Yong Ye, an ADB Project Economist.
"By providing safe and reliable water supply and improving sanitation, the project will directly improve the health and living conditions of the town communities, along with their economies which will benefit from better productivity as a result of health improvements, time savings in collecting water, and increased urban efficiency from improved roads, drainage, and sanitation."
The Government's National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy for 2004 aims to reduce poverty through strong economic growth and increased emphasis on the poorest districts. It focuses on health, including water supply and sanitation, as one of four priority sectors for poverty reduction.
The Northern region, the geographic focus of ADB's operations in Lao PDR, has the highest incidence of poverty in the country at 52%. It is also home to 25 of the nation's 47 poorest districts officially identified as priorities for development.
Having been neglected in past investments, small towns with populations ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 remain underdeveloped. Overall piped water supply coverage is only about 17% compared with 69% in Vientiane and the four largest secondary towns.
More than half of households do not have any form of water sealed toilets and less than a tenth of primary schools have latrines. Roads have mainly gravel or dirt pavements, with low coverage of roadside drains. Residents in small towns spend considerable time, energy, and financial resources acquiring their daily water needs.
These conditions, in addition to low hygiene awareness, have resulted in a high incidence of diarrhea diseases and malaria in small towns. The economic development of these small towns is likewise constrained, as well as their ability to serve surrounding areas.
The project will employ new approaches to small town water supply and has a strong community participation focus. Communities, for example, will select, plan, design and implement improvements to villages, as well as operate and maintain the facilities. Water and sanitation units at the village level will also help identify households eligible for sanitation improvements.
ADB's grant, from its Asian Development Fund, will cover about 40% of the project's estimated total cost of $24.9 million. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund will cofinance $9 million of the project cost, and a $1.7 million grant will come from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. The Government and the beneficiaries will finance the remaining $4.2 million equivalent.
The Ministry of Communication, Transport, Posts and Construction is the executing agency for the project, which is due for completion in March 2010.
The Asian Development Bank is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members, with 45 from the region. In 2004, it approved loans and technical assistance totaling $5.3 billion and $196.6 million, respectively.
Source: www.adb.org/Documents/News/2005/nr2005107.asp
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (26 August 2005) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$10 million grant to help provide safe and reliable water supplies and improve the urban environment for up to 100,000 residents of small towns in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).
The project will help improve the accessibility, quality, reliability, and sustainability of water supply services in about 12 small towns in the country's Northern and Central regions by developing new water sources and constructing optimal-sized water supply systems using appropriate technologies.
To complement these, the project will help improve the environmental conditions in these towns by rehabilitating and improving selected urban facilities including sanitation, drainage, roads, and bridges. In addition, the project will enhance awareness of public hygiene and motivate the public to participate in village improvement initiatives.
To ensure the sustainability of the project, the management and regulation of the sector will be strengthened through capacity-building activities and by enhancing the regulatory framework, such as strengthening the legal foundation for the Water Supply Authority's role as a sector regulator and establishing a regular source of financing for its activities.
"The institutional framework, particularly the regulatory framework, established and strengthened under the project, is responsive to the recent decentralization of the water supply sector and aims to lay a sound foundation for the sector's long term development," says Yong Ye, an ADB Project Economist.
"By providing safe and reliable water supply and improving sanitation, the project will directly improve the health and living conditions of the town communities, along with their economies which will benefit from better productivity as a result of health improvements, time savings in collecting water, and increased urban efficiency from improved roads, drainage, and sanitation."
The Government's National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy for 2004 aims to reduce poverty through strong economic growth and increased emphasis on the poorest districts. It focuses on health, including water supply and sanitation, as one of four priority sectors for poverty reduction.
The Northern region, the geographic focus of ADB's operations in Lao PDR, has the highest incidence of poverty in the country at 52%. It is also home to 25 of the nation's 47 poorest districts officially identified as priorities for development.
Having been neglected in past investments, small towns with populations ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 remain underdeveloped. Overall piped water supply coverage is only about 17% compared with 69% in Vientiane and the four largest secondary towns.
More than half of households do not have any form of water sealed toilets and less than a tenth of primary schools have latrines. Roads have mainly gravel or dirt pavements, with low coverage of roadside drains. Residents in small towns spend considerable time, energy, and financial resources acquiring their daily water needs.
These conditions, in addition to low hygiene awareness, have resulted in a high incidence of diarrhea diseases and malaria in small towns. The economic development of these small towns is likewise constrained, as well as their ability to serve surrounding areas.
The project will employ new approaches to small town water supply and has a strong community participation focus. Communities, for example, will select, plan, design and implement improvements to villages, as well as operate and maintain the facilities. Water and sanitation units at the village level will also help identify households eligible for sanitation improvements.
ADB's grant, from its Asian Development Fund, will cover about 40% of the project's estimated total cost of $24.9 million. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund will cofinance $9 million of the project cost, and a $1.7 million grant will come from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. The Government and the beneficiaries will finance the remaining $4.2 million equivalent.
The Ministry of Communication, Transport, Posts and Construction is the executing agency for the project, which is due for completion in March 2010.
The Asian Development Bank is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members, with 45 from the region. In 2004, it approved loans and technical assistance totaling $5.3 billion and $196.6 million, respectively.
Source: www.adb.org/Documents/News/2005/nr2005107.asp