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afrol News, 4 September - A Franc CFA 15 billion rural water supply project in Guinea today was financed by the African Development Fund (ADF). The project includes over 1000 water points, some powered by solar energy. The ADF today announced it had approved a loan of approximately Franc CFA 13.30 billion to finance the Guinean rural water supply project. This was to finance 98 percent of the foreign exchange and 65 percent of the local currency expenses of the project whose total cost is estimated at Franc CFA 15.17 billion. The project is in keeping with Guinea's National Rural Water Supply Programme. This programme aims at meeting the drinking water requirements of rural dwellers in several villages of the Dabola, Faranah, Kankan, Kouroussa and Siguiri Prefectures, by providing them with at least 10 litres of water per capita per day by the year 2005. - To this end, the project will involve the installation of 1,100 modern water points equipped with manual pumps and 6 mini drinking water supply solar-powered systems, ADF says in a statement released today. The project was also to help construct 5,000 family and 200 public latrines under the project in order to provide beneficiaries villages with conditions of hygiene that will improve their health by protecting them from certain diseases. According to the Fund, the project would contribute significantly to improving the living environment and health of rural dwellers in the region of Haute Guinée through a better supply of drinking water. It was also to improve women conditions of living since the reduction of the water chore time would "enable them to pursue other gainful activities, especially those that generate income." Moreover, by relieving young girls from water fetching chores, the project was expected to contribute to increase the school enrolment rate of girls. Finally, pump repairs were to generate additional income for skilled repairers who, in general, pursue other concurrent agriculture activities. Sources: Based on ADF and afrol archives
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