The Gambia Water and Sanitation Project

pipeline

The water supply and sanitation services in The Gambia are currently facing a significant crisis due to ongoing challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the 2023 Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report, only 48% of the population has access to safely managed water services, with 68% access in urban areas compared to just 12% in rural areas. Access to basic sanitation services is also a major concern, as only 28% of the population has access to safely managed sanitation, while 15% still practice open defecation, particularly in rural regions. Additionally, the country lacks adequate wastewater treatment, with about 80% of wastewater improperly managed, leading to groundwater contamination and posing significant public health risks. Three key localities in the Greater Banjul Area (GBA)—Banjul, Kanifing, and Brikama—are home to approximately 63% of the country's population. The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) currently produces 139,000 cubic meters of water daily, which is insufficient to meet the demand. The GBA mainly relies on boreholes that draw water from a sub-shallow aquifer; however, this water source is vulnerable to contamination from untreated sewage and saltwater intrusion caused by rising sea levels related to climate change. The Gambia Water and Sanitation Project (WASAP) aims to support the government's efforts to address the crisis in water and sanitation services in the Greater Banjul Area (GBA) region. This operation includes a series of activities organized into four mutually reinforcing components, which are summarized below: Component 1: Improving Access to Urban Drinking Water Services (US$15 million) • Water Supply Infrastructure Development ($14.0 million) • Private sector participation in NRW management ($1.0 million) Component 2: Improving Access to Sanitation Services ($8.0 million)Component 2.1: Urban Sanitation (6.5 million) • Emergency wastewater management ($5.0 million) • Construction of a Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant ($1.5 million)Component 2.2: Rural Sanitation Development ($1.5 million) • Construction of Safely Managed Latrines in Targeted Rural Areas ($0.9 million) • Development of a National Sanitation Master Plan (US$0.6 M)Component 3. Water Resources Monitoring and Conservation ($3.0 million) • Component 3.1: Enhancing transboundary cooperation on the SMAB ($0.5 million) • Component 3.2: Enhancing water sources monitoring and conservation ($2.5 million)Component 4. Sector Reforms and Project management: ($4 million) • Component 4.1 Sector Institutional Strengthening through PBCs ($2 million) • Component 4.2 Project management ($2 million)Component 5. Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) • Component 5 CERC $0 millionTOTAL: $30 million