Denmark will provide a grant assistance of US$ 4.2 million for implementation of rural water supply and sanitation in Nghe An Province in Central of Vietnam.
The project was approved by Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Bjarne H. Sørensen and Vice Chairman of Nghe An Province Nguyen Dinh Chi on July 15, 2004.
“Creating a better life for all, especially for poor communities and households in remote rural areas, is a major challenge for Vietnam,” says Ambassador Bjarne H. Sørensen.
“This project will provide good opportunities for improving living conditions and public health for many rural communities and households, schools and health clinics in Nghe An Province through improved water supply and sanitation facilities. The participation and involvement of the local population in all stages from planning to implementation will be an important element of the project,” he explains
Access to basic drinking water supply and sanitation facilities is in general low and inadequate in many rural areas of Vietnam. About 30 percent of rural households are currently having access to water supplies which meet basic needs, but only about 10 percent of rural households are estimated to have access to water supplies that meet national clean water standards.
Of estimated 50 percent of rural households that use some kind of latrines, only about a third is using facilities that are considered hygienic. In particular, many poor communities and poor households in remote communes in various parts of the country lack access to proper water supply and sanitation.
The project will support the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy and assist local authorities, communities, schools and health clinics in Nghe An Province to implement rural water supply and sanitation facilities. It will be implemented during a three years period from 2004 to 2007.
Support will be provided for construction of small piped water supply schemes, handpumps, dug wells, rainwater jars and various types of hygienic sanitation facilities. Emphasis will be given to supporting community managed water supply and sanitation facilities based on user demands and reflecting the needs of women and the poor.
Implementation of the project will be based on intensive information, education and communication for selected communes, communities and households to ensure users involvement in planning, implementation, management and financing of the water supply and sanitation facilities.
Support will also be provided to implementation of water supply and sanitation in schools and health clinics.
Grant and soft loan facilities will be established for poor households and communities for investments in appropriate and affordable rural water supply and sanitation facilities.
