Guatemala: US$ 100 million from Spain and the IDB to improve water and sanitation services

Updated - Thursday 21 January 2010

Thanks to US$ 50 million (€ 33.4 million) in grants from Spain and the same amount in loans from the Inter-American Development (IDB) Guatemala will expand safe water and sanitation services to approximately 600,000 people in 280 rural communities and 60 urban and periurban areas that today lack those services.

In addition to enhancing and expanding water and sanitation services and strengthening service delivery institutions, the programme will foster organised participation by the rural communities and the municipalities in order to ensure that the sustainability of the systems constructed.

The National Peace Fund (FONAPAZ) with the support of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance will implement the programme initially. After 19 months, the Municipal Development Institute (INFOM/UNEPAR) will take over responsibility.

The IDB could eventually consider financing a second phase of the programme with an additional US$ 100 million (€ 66.9 million) loan.

Project information: IDB – Water and Sanitation Program for Human Development-Phase I

Related news: Bolivia, Haiti: IDB, Spain provide US$ 139 million for water and sanitation, Source Weekly, 17 Nov 2009

Related web sites:

Contact:

Camilo Garzón, IDB Project Team Leader, USA, tel: (202) 623-1945, e-mail: camilog@iadb.org
Edgar Orellana, IDB Project Team Leader, Country Office in Guatemala, e-mail: edgaro@iadb.org

Source: IDB, 23 Nov 2009

IDB video on the Spanish Water and Sanitation Cooperation Fund