Overview

Safe and reliable water systems are a vital component in fulfilling the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s mission of reducing poverty through economic growth around the world. Water is fundamental to sustainable development and the lack of clean water most impacts the world’s poor, particularly their health and education.

MCC is therefore deeply committed to providing access to clean and reliable water along with MCC partner countries that also recognize the significance of water infrastructure to the sustainability of their initiatives to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. MCC has invested approximately $530 million in water and sanitation projects and more than $400 million in irrigation to support the agriculture sector.

What We’re Doing: Water and Sanitation

Mozambique

The largest component in MCC’s compact with Mozambique provides access to a safe, reliable water supply and sanitation services thereby increasing productivity and reducing water-borne diseases. The $203 million project will supply water and sanitation services to six cities in the provinces of Zambézia, Nampula and Cabo Delgado; water supply in two mid-sized towns in Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces; rural water supply services covering 600 water points in the Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces; and capacity building of local institutions and policy development.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso’s MCC Compact provides $142 million to expand the productive use of land by increasing the volume and value of agricultural production. Compact activities specifically focus on the Léry Dam rehabilitation and associated structures, the Di irrigation scheme, Integrated Regional Water Management IRWM plans for Sourou valley and Comoé Basin. Previously, under the threshold program, MCC provided $13 million dollars for the construction of 132 schools, which included the construction of latrines and boreholes.

Lesotho

Lesotho’s MCC compact provides $164 million for a water sector project to improve the water supply for industrial and domestic use that will provide essential infrastructure to deliver water to local businesses. Domestic users in selected urban and rural areas will benefit from water system upgrades and expansion providing a reliable supply of water and better sanitation. The project will also enhance rural livelihoods through improved watershed management.

Tanzania

Tanzania’s MCC compact dedicates $66 million to a project designed to increase the quantity and reliability of potable water for domestic and commercial use. The project specifically focuses on improving water supply infrastructure in two cities—Dar es Salaam and Morogoro. The Tanzanians are also using MCC funds to improve the system efficiencies of the Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority.

Georgia

Georgia’s MCC compact includes a Regional Infrastructure Development Facility to provide $43.5 million for regional and municipal physical infrastructure for water supply, sanitation, irrigation, and solid waste in regions outside of the capital city of Tbilisi.

El Salvador

El Salvador’s MCC compact is investing nearly $24 million to provide access to potable water systems and sanitation services.

 

What We’re Doing: Irrigation

Irrigation is also an important aspect of water management. MCC funds agricultural projects that include irrigation.

Armenia

Armenia’s MCC compact provides $113 million in support to increase the area of land under irrigated production and to improve the overall efficiency of sourcing and water delivery to farmers. This includes rehabilitating infrastructure and strengthening irrigation system entities, including water supply agencies and user associations.

Mali

Mali’s MCC compact provides $150 million to improve irrigation systems to stimulate value-added industrial production and economic growth, as well as providing support for latrines, wells, and education and treatment for water-borne diseases.

Additionally, in Cape Verde, Ghana, Mongolia, and Nicaragua, MCC is providing a total of $51 million to support irrigation development and wells.

Startling Statistics

• 

  Nearly 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water and 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation.

• 

  It is estimated that close to half of all people in developing countries suffer from health problems resulting from a lack of water and sanitation.

• 

  Estimates reveal that 88 percent of disease globally is a result of unsafe water supply and a lack of sanitation and hygiene, affecting mainly children in the developing world.

• 

  Poor children around the world miss 443 million days of school each year because of water-related illnesses. Such illnesses are a leading cause of death in children under the age of five.

• 

  Women and girls spend, on average, 15 to 17 hours per week collecting water.

•