Addis Ababa, 20 August, 2015(WIC) – The Office of Water Development Fund says it has funded 8 billion birr for the accomplishment of potable water projects in 56 towns during the concluded Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) period.
In an exclusive interview with WIC Executive Director of the office, Wanna Wake said the funding was aimed at creating access for potable water and sanitation services in urban areas of the country. The fund was gained from creditors and aid organizations.
According to Wanna, the project for 36 towns was commenced in the first phase and 15 of them are completed and the remaining 21 are under construction in selected six regions of the country.
The office has completed preparations to start 40 up to 45 new projects in selected towns since the coming September, Wanna said. About 81 million dollars is collected from European Investment Bank, the Italian Development Organization and the French Development Organization, he added.
“We have concluded the negotiation to get 100 million dollar loan from Africa Development Bank and expect the agreement to be signed in the near future. This Money will fund projects to be commenced in the towns of Gode, Bichena, Adwa and Adama,” Wanna noted. An agreement to fund 23 million dollar for a potable water project in the town of Axum was signed with Kuwait and negotiation to get more fund from other international bodies is underway, he remarked.
The office is loaning funds to be repaid with lower interest in the long run to selected towns in the country, the Executive Director said. This will strengthen the government’s capacity to undertake such projects via its own funds in the future, he remarked. Nine towns out of the completed 15 projects have started to repay the fund, Wanna noted.
Wanna indicated that financial constraint is the main challenge that the office is facing in its effort to address demands from different areas of the country. He urged those who have completed the projects to strengthen their financial capacity and prepare to further upgrade the project in the long run.
The towns should fill their gaps and be able to complete projects on schedule period and effectively administer contracts, he noted.