US$200 million for rural safe water program

The World Bank has approved a US$ 200 million IDA credit for the ongoing program to provide safe water for 1.7 million people in eight Red River Delta provinces.

The World Bank has approved a US$ 200 million IDA credit for the ongoing program to provide safe water for 1.7 million people in eight Red River Delta provinces.

”Vietnam has made impressive progress in economic growth and poverty reduction, but more needs to be done to reduce rural poverty,” said Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam.

“Better access to safe water and sanitation, delivered by the government using our new financing instrument, will help ensure that the quality of life for people in rural communities improves, which is important for sustainability and equity of growth in Vietnam.”

Access to sustainable water supply and sanitation services in rural areas of Vietnam remains low, and water quality is a problem in the Red River Delta region.

Improved sanitation and better access to safe water brings important health benefits as well. In addition, the program will support the strengthening of institutional systems, improve sector planning, and monitoring and evaluation in participating provinces.

For the first time in the country, the State Audit of Vietnam will carry out independent verification of Program results.

The program will strengthen governance systems for results-based service delivery as well as gender-based monitoring and reporting, two key components of the World Bank Vietnam Country Partnership Strategy 2012 – 2016.