PY Water & Sanitation Sector Modernization

closed

The development objective of the Water and Sanitation Sector Modernization Project for Paraguay is to increase the efficiency, coverage, and sustainability of water supply and sanitation (WSS) services in Paraguay by: (a) improving the governance of the sector; (b) improving water services and increasing access to sewerage services in the Asuncion metropolitan area; and (c) increasing access to sustainable water and sanitation services in rural areas. There are three components to the project. The first component of the project is support to the modernization of sector governance and institutional strengthening. The component includes support for: (a) the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) to strengthen the recently created Water and Sewerage Services Unit; (b) strengthening the Regulatory Entity (ERSSAN) to effectively regulate the sector; and (c) the Environmental Secretariat (SEAM) by strengthening the water resources and the environmental licensing directorates. The second component of the project is urban WSS and institutional strengthening of the Sanitary Services Company of Paraguay (ESSAP). This component includes: (a) institutional strengthening and corporate governance of ESSAP; and (b) priority WSS infrastructure investments. The third component of the project is rural water supply, sanitation, and hygiene education and institutional strengthening of the National Environmental Sanitation Service (SENASA). This component includes: (a) strengthening the SENASA and its governance; (b) increasing coverage of WSS for indigenous communities; (c) increasing coverage of WSS, and hygiene education in rural communities; and (d) construction and/or expansion of services in rural communities using minimum subsidy schemes.