209 manual water pumps have been rehabilitated in the N’zi region, central-eastern Ivory Coast with the aim of improving access to water in the region.
The facilities have been upgraded as part of the government’s social programme (Psgouv 2019-2020). The initiative launched in May 2019 in this West African country aims to rehabilitate and maintain a total of 21,000 human-powered pumps. This should help improve the drinking water supply to 11 million people in rural areas.
Out of the 209 installations, 75 human-powered pumps are located in the Dimbokro department, 97 in Bocanda and the last 36 in Kouassi kouassikro. These modernised installations will supply inhabitants of almost 200 localities in this region. The government’s social programme, implemented by the Ivorian Ministry of Hydraulics, will make it possible to rehabilitate almost 600 manual pumps in the N’zi region alone.
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Water sanitation and distribution facilities
Development of basic infrastructure such as water sanitation and distribution facilities are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in Ivory Coast. A large number of the issues regarding sanitation and water quality in Cote d’Ivoire can be attributed to the domestic conflict that ended in 2007. The conflict damaged crucial water supply infrastructure, especially in the north, and post-conflict reconstruction has overshadowed the maintenance and repair of these systems.
The government aims to increase the rate of access to drinking water to 95% before the end of 2020. A 60% level increase will be made in rural areas and 85% in towns. In line with the government’s target, the authorities also launched “water for all” programme which seeks to provide drinking water across the country Ivorians by 2030 by accelerating the construction of drinking water production facilities.
The Ivorian Minister of Hydraulics, Laurent Tchagba launched in October 2020 the construction of two drinking water supply systems (AEP) in Mankono and Séguéla. The installations will be delivered in 24 months. The overall cost of the “water for all” programme is estimated US $2.4bn.
