Brussels, 29/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - €24 million will be made available by the European Union to improve access to drinking water and sanitation facilities in Malawi, a country which has already made remarkable progress towards this Millennium Development Goal and which the EU hopes to support in accelerating this progress between now and 2015, the European Commission announced on Monday 29 April.
This funding, which will come from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), constitutes the EU's contribution to a programme of a total envelope of €30 million, with €6 million co-funded by UNICEF.
Focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable populations in 15 districts and seven cities of the country with limited access to clean water and sanitation, the funds allocated by the Commission will make it possible to create 500 new water points and guarantee the supply of drinking water and access to sanitation facilities in 50 health centres, promote hygiene in schools and provide local committees with training on managing water supply infrastructure.
In 1990, 41% of the population in Malawi had access to drinking water. This percentage rose to 83% in 2010. And whilst just 39% of the population had access to basic sanitation in 1990, the figure had risen to 70% in 2010. (AN/transl.fl)