18 December 2012: The European Commission (EC) has launched a programme that promotes the rehabilitation of water infrastructure in Côte d’Ivoire, which can benefit 350,000 people and provide better sanitation facilities to 650,000 people. This initiative extends urgent intervention and rehabilitation of rural areas affected by the political crisis in 2010.

With a total budget of 27 million euros, the main objective of the programme is to build approximately 100 drinking water conveyances stations in villages with a population between 1,000 and 4,000 inhabitants. In order to make this investment sustainable, training sessions will be organized to ensure the maintenance and management of these new infrastructures. In addition, improved latrines will also be provided in about 1000 villages.

As part of EU’s development aid totaling 320 million euros, the initiative will be mainly implemented in the west region of Cote d’Ivoire, the most affected area since the political crisis in 2010, and is expected to contribute to the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), while assisting the process of peace stability. [EU Press Release]