(Ecofin Agency) - The government of Burkina Faso is benefiting from CFA10 billion ($16 million) from the African Development Bank to speed up the Rural Clean Water and Sanitation Program (PEPA-MR). The agreement was signed February 21 between the Burkinabe Minister of Economy, Lassané Kaboré, and the AfDB Country Manager in Burkina Faso, Pascal Yembiliné (pictured).

Under this initiative, the government intends to bring clean water coverage in the Centre-West regions to 84% in 2022, from 70% in 2018; and the sanitation rate in this same area to 70% in 2025 from 15% in 2018. Authorities also plan to improve sanitation rate in the Centre-South region to 65% in 2025 from 10% in 2018.

Burkina Faso still needs to overcome many challenges to achieve its clean water coverage goal, especially in rural areas. In 2015, about 8.7% of the rural population fetched water from standpipes while 0.3% was served by private connection (PB).

André Chadrak