The project

The project involves the extension and rehabilitation of drinking water supply infrastructure in the Eastern Region and also aims to ensure the sustainability of the investments by strengthening governance of the sector at local level (municipalities and the DREA).

Component 1 – Drinking water supply infrastructure: construction or rehabilitation of around 30 drinking water supply systems and approximately 80 boreholes equipped with human-powered pumps, benefiting 250,000 rural users.

Component 2 – Supporting measures: technical assistance to the Eastern Regional Directorate (DREA), regulation of private operators, preparation of technical studies and tender documents (DAO), and monitoring and supervision of works; support for water users’ associations (AUE); implementation of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.

Our services as part of the project

Technical assistance to the Regional Directorate for Water and Sanitation (DREA) to ensure the efficient implementation and rigorous monitoring of the project, whilst strengthening the DREA’s capacity to carry out its remit. The mission is organised around two key principles relating to capacity building, skills transfer and the sustainability of actions: structuring and organising the tasks of DREA staff and supporting local authorities, via the DREA, in their role as project owners. The mission comprises several tasks:

• Supporting the DREA in the implementation and monitoring of the AEP-Est project: technical and methodological support in its role as project owner for the investments (procurement procedures, selection of technical and social project management contractors, etc.);
• Providing advisory support to the DREA and strengthening its capacities: monitoring and oversight functions within the drinking water supply sector; strengthening the DREA in its role of providing advisory support to local authorities to foster the development of genuine local project management;
• Establishment of an independent technical and financial monitoring mechanism (STEFI) for the concessionaires recruited to operate the infrastructure built under the project: regional and central support for the DREA in taking ownership of and rolling out the mechanism, and support for the DREA in establishing a central dialogue with a view to regulating services.