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 and catchment systems. Rwanda is one of the most pro-local business countries in Africa. As such, Water For People, under the leadership of Country Coordinator Hélène Baribeau, is designing its interventions to energize and promote local private sector responses to water and sanitation challenges.

Water & Sanitation
Water For People—Rwanda is focusing its work on the districts of Rulindo and Kichukiro. 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.

Preliminary results of the 2009 World Water Corps mapping study show that, according to the government standards, the districts of Rulindo and Kichukiro 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 were 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 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.