Niger and Switzerland are working together to implement the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Sector Program (Proseha). This initiative is now the subject of a partnership between the governments of the two countries. Under the agreement, the Swiss government will inject 2.4 billion CFA francs (more than 3.6 million euros) into the Proseha basket fund over the period from January 12, 2022 to December 31, 2023.
Proseha includes five sub-programs dedicated to drinking water supply, hygiene and sanitation, monitoring and protection of water resources, governance and pastoral hydraulics. These sub-programs will be implemented in three successive phases. The Swiss government’s funding will help accelerate the work at the various sites, with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. According to the Swiss Confederation, less than 50% of Nigeriens have access to safe drinking water and only 7% have basic sanitation.
Read Also – DRINKING WATER: Major African programmes that are making a difference locally
In addition, it will be necessary to “explore the functionality of a relatively new national mechanism that will advance the decentralization of the water sector,” says the Swiss ambassador to Niger, Georg Steiner.
Financing other water projects
The Nigerien government estimates that Proseha will cost a total of 3.290 billion CFA francs, more than 5.7 million euros. The other part of the financing is provided by the Nigerien public treasury, local authorities, technical and financial partners, the private sector, etc.
With the 2.4 billion CFA francs granted for the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Sector Program, Switzerland is thus expanding its investment portfolio in the water sector in Niger. Since the beginning of cooperation between the two countries in 1979, the supply of water to the population has improved, according to Berne. Switzerland has also financed the Rural Hydraulics Program to support the water and sanitation sector (Phrasea). Between 2012 and 2015, the program benefited from approximately $18 million and over the period from 2016 to 2020 from an additional investment of more than $16.4 million. Phrasea also supports the efforts of the Government of Niger by focusing on the ownership of councils.
Inès Magoum