Water and sanitation - Democratic Republic of Congo

Water and sanitation | DFID funded projects | DRC water and sanitation key statistics | DRC country profile

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Department for International Development (DFID) has doubled its support to the water and sanitation sector to £8 million per year. This will rise to £10 million in 2007/08.

DFID’s focus is to encourage and promote an integrated approach for water supply, sanitation and hygiene education. We work with local government and partner organisations to deliver basic services to those who need them most as quickly as we can. In parallel, we are developing a longer-term strategy of helping to build capacity in the water and sanitation sector.

DFID support is aimed at rural and peri-urban areas. There are three main programmes:

• providing access to water and sanitation for 1.7 million people living in rural areas. This work is being implemented by UNICEF through the well established provisional health system and is called ‘Village Assaini’ or healthy village.
• expanding an existing DFID project in the peri-urban areas of Mbuji-Mayi (the third largest city) to provide access to water for 300,000 people in partnership with the European Community and the Belgian government;
• adding water supply and sanitation projects to our existing health projects through Non-governmental organisations such as Oxfam and the International Rescue Committee.

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Examples of DFID funded projects

• Water supply project, 2006-09:
  With the help of Belgian Technical Co-operation the project aims to provide safe water to 300,000 people in Mbuji-Mayi by establishing water supply networks. Construction will be carried out by local contractors and labour. Community structures will be established and trained in management, maintenance and financing of the schemes by a local Non-governmental organisation. Approved commitment £2.5 million.
• Emergency humanitarian assistance: nutrition, water and sanitation programme, 2005-07:
  Working through Action Against Hunger aim to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with acute malnutrition and water related diseases to war-affected populations in North Katanga and South Kivu provinces. Approved commitment £3,036,399.
• Emergency medical and water sanitation assistance, 2006:
  Working through International Rescue Committee aim to prevent and reduce excess morbidity and mortality among the population recovering from war in the Kalehe health zone, South Kivu. Approved commitment £1,476,967.
• Emergency humanitarian assistance to water affected population, 2005-06:
  Working with Action Against Hunger aim to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with acute malnutrition and water related diseases in South Kivu. Approved commitment £1.3 million.
• Emergency Water Distribution Project for Displaced Populations, 2003 -:
  Working with Solidarities to distribute drinkable water to 20,000 - 40,000 people in camp settlements in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. Approved commitment £234,000.

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Key statistics

Millennium Development Goal targets

Drinking water - Severely Off Track
Sanitation - Off Track

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP)

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP)

Source: 2006 United Nations World Water Development Report

Last updated: 17 March 2007