The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved an International Development Association (IDA) financing, 100 million USD in support of the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Ethiopia.

The IDA financing includes a credit of 65 million USD and a grant of 35 million USD.

The Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project (UWSS) aims to increase access to sustainable water supply and sanitation services in Addis Ababa and other four secondary cities.

It will help produce more water for all customers and extend the distribution network to areas that currently lack water service.

“Up to four million urban residents in Addis and four other cities will have increased access to potable water, and households in low-income areas will have improved sanitation facilities.”

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets for Ethiopia call for providing 63 percent of the population access to safe water supply and 58 percent access to improved sanitation by 2015.

The project will increase access to improved sanitation facilities, mainly for low- income, urban residents. In doing so, it will improve drainage to avoid un-controlled sewage water discharges to streets and paths resulting from cooking, cleaning and bathing.