Rwanda

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa, with 60% living below the poverty line. The country has abundant rainfall but lacks necessary storage, collection, catchment and/or distribution systems. Rwanda is one of the most pro-local business countries in Africa. Water For People is designing its interventions to energize and promote local private sector responses to water and sanitation challenges.

Water For People-Rwanda is focusing its work on the districts of Rulindo and Kicukiro. Both districts have a high number of nonfunctional water sources or intermittent water supply. As a result, people often walk more than two kilometers to reach a water source.

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Rwanda News

Blog

  • Surveying Rwanda’s Water Supply - A Blog by WWC Volunteer Michael Mascarenhas [read more]

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Population:
9,464,000
Languages:
Kinyarwanda, French, English
Per capita income:
$730
Life expectancy:
51/53 years
Under-five mortality rate:
160/1,000 live births
Rural access to improved
drinking water sources:
61%
Rural access to improved sanitation:
20%
Source:
UNESCO and UNICEF

Growing a program from scratch

Water and Sanitation

Preliminary results of the 2009 World Water Corps mapping study show that, according to government standards, the districts of Rulindo and Kicukiro face problems that are more severe in water supply and hygiene education than in sanitation. In Rwanda, even if some latrines are not structurally sound or the pits are not as deep as required, each household has a latrine. A number of public institutions, especially schools, face a severe lack of sufficient latrines and most of them are not clean.

Currently in Rwanda

Ground was broken in July 2009 to initiate work to serve 6,274 people in the suburbs of Kigali with safe drinking water, after preparation with partners, the national utility company (Electrogaz), and the local government. Additionally, the program has begun work on ecological toilets and rainwater harvesting systems to support 5,173 students and school staff in partnership with Rwanda Environment Care for ecological toilets, and with ANA Rwanda for rainwater catchment systems.

Highlights from the World Water Corps

Rwanda Mapping and Needs Assessment Study — Read the full report

  • More than 400 water points within eight sectors of the Rulindo and Kicukiro districts were visited during the initial mapping and needs assessment study.
  • In all the sectors studied, water supply and hygiene education were in notably worse condition than sanitation.
  • While every home has a latrine or toilet, a large number of public institutions (especially schools) have a severe lack of adequate and clean latrines.

 

 


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