The World Bank will allocate Moldova 44.1 million euros for the development of the water supply sector in the country.
In particular, the World Bank Board of Directors approved funding for the Moldova Water Security and Sanitation project estimated at 44.1 million euros, which will support the Moldovan government in implementing a comprehensive and long-term approach to solving the remaining problems in the country's water sector. According to WB experts, Moldova still faces problems in the water sector. The 2020 drought, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, highlighted the need to invest in a more inclusive and resilient water sector. The Water Security and Sanitation project in Moldova, co-financed by the Austrian Development Agency, includes necessary investments in urban and rural water supply and sanitation to increase access to safely managed services. In addition, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in schools and health facilities will increase access to these sustainable services. In addition, a pilot project on community sanitation is planned to help households access improved sanitation services using low-cost technologies. The pilot project will be used to influence and accelerate these approaches in the National Water Security and Sanitation Program. “Moldova needs to invest in an inclusive and resilient water sector,” said Inguna Dobraja, World Bank Country Manager for Moldova. According to her, the Water Security and Sanitation project is essential for increasing water supplies, improving water quality and water management capacity in Moldova. This means that a significant number of people in underserved areas will benefit from gaining access to properly managed drinking water and sanitation services. About 66,000 people are expected to directly benefit from this project. Many of these people will be connected to a centralized water supply network for the first time. In addition, students and staff in about 100 schools (about 25,000 people) and patients and staff in 25 health facilities in rural areas will benefit from improved water and sanitation services. Since Moldova joined the World Bank in 1992, more than $1.3 billion has been allocated to finance more than 60 operations in the country. The World Bank portfolio now includes 11 ongoing projects with a total value of $591.2 million. Areas of support include regulatory reform and development of business, modernization of public services, tax administration, land registration, education, road sector, healthcare and social assistance, including emergency response to COVID-19, as well as agriculture and the energy sector. // 01.02.2022 – InfoMarket
