LONDON (EBRD press service) — About $3.5 mln is planned to be allocated for the implementation of the project Program for improving the water supply system in Khujand, Phase III. According to the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan, these funds will be allocated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on a grant basis.

According to the source, in general, the total cost of the project (all three phases) is $8.8 mln, $5.3 mln of which are grant funds. In addition, the republic allocated $1.4 mln of technical assistance under this project. The project is financed by the EBRD and the Government of Switzerland.

The project envisages the restoration of the water supply network in the village of Vodnik, construction of water metering units for consumers, restoration of wells, rehabilitation of the second pumping station, and installation of water meters.

Gaining 24h access to water
Ensuring 24-hour access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation and hygiene for households, businesses and public buildings in Tajikistan required international collaboration on multiple fronts: to improve policies, institutions and infrastructure. Due to the deficit in financing, the government turned to external aid, including the EBRD and its donors, to fill funding gaps, not only in funding but also in expertise.

To improve water and wastewater infrastructure for all of the Khujand’s population, EBRD provided a total of $6.55 mln in loans to the Khujand Water Company and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) gave $12.47 mln in grants. The funding covered new pipes and water distribution networks, new domestic water meters, the replacement of deteriorated water and sewage pumps as well as development of new boreholes to increase the water supply capacity. Still to come during the next phase is the rehabilitation of the wastewater treatment plant.

The physical infrastructure investments were also accompanied by improvements to “soft” infrastructure policies and legal systems.

SECO also funded project design and implementation support work, while Finland paid for the city’s Master Plan helping to analyse the city’s water source, storage, delivery and its treatment. Norway also contributed donor funds for a programme aimed at finding the best ways to improve financial and operational performance of the company.

In addition, the EBRD’s Early Transition Countries (ETC) Fund financed a corporate development plan to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Water Company and also stakeholder participation programme, allowing a platform for citizens’ input to be considered prior to making any decisions.