Minister of Water & Environment, Abdul Rahman Fadhl al-Eryani and the Resident Representative in Yemen for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Takeshi Komori signed a grant agreement of 86,000,000 Japanese Yen (approximately $860,000 USD) for a rural water supply project.
The grant will be used to initiate construction on water supply facilities that are expected to cost a total of $16 million USD.
The project, which is scheduled to start in 2010, consists of 19 sites for new construction or the rehabilitation of water supply systems in five Yemeni governorates, namely, Sana'a, Dhamar, al-Mahweet, Taiz, and Ibb. The project should serve over 130,000 people in rural areas by providing them with proper access to clean drinking water.
The project, which is being implemented in collaboration with the General Authority for Rural Water Supply Projects, will utilize contributions from the local communities in the targeted areas, as well as encourage their participation, in order to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the project.
For decades the government of Japan and JICA have been extending support to Yemen in various areas such as water management, health, education, vocational training, agriculture, fisheries, and electricity. Through this support their intention has been to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development in the country, and to help create a better tomorrow for everyone in Yemen.
By Observer Staff
© Yemen Observer 2009
