On Tuesday, the 16th March 2021, Japan through its embassy in Rwanda has donated 81 Million Rwf to be used to provide clean water in Nyabihu district signed by Japan Ambassador in Rwanda,Masahiro Imai.
About 8,000 residents from Rega Cell, Bigogwe Sector in Nyabihu District will soon feel a sigh of relief from water shortage after the Japanese Embassy to Rwanda granted over Rwf80 million ($82,000) to the Association Rwandaise pour le Développement Endogène (ARDE/KUBAHO) to improve access to water and hygiene and sanitation in the neighborhood.
The grant signed will serve for the construction of a water system of 4. 37 kilometers of water pipe, two water kiosks, a water tank, six valve chambers and two public taps at the area.
Under the framework of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP), the government of Japan provides grants to Non-Governmental Organizations, schools and local authorities for their development projects.
For the last 6 years, the 2 similar projects in the areas of water were supported in Muhanga and Kamonyi districts.
Rwanda targets to ensure universal access to clean water by 2024 and ARDE Legal Representative, Paul Murenzi, hailed Japan’s commitment to contribute to the government’s efforts to achieve its targeted milestone.
“This grant by Japan is an important contribution to our country’s development strategy and the wellbeing of the people who have no access to clean water,” Murenzi said after signing the grant contract.
Murenzi said bringing clean water closer to the residents of Rega Cell will play an impact in behavior-change in their hygiene and sanitation, save time walking miles to fetch water far away from their homes and, most importantly, boost health relief for those who fetch unclean water from marshlands.
After signing of grant contract with ARDE/KUBAHO, Masahiro Imai, the Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, hailed the work that ARDE/KUBAHO have so far done in not only developing the areas where their projects operate but also putting into action the support and encouragement to the people.
The envoy said that the embassy chose to support the ARDE/KUBAHO’ project because have been reliable for the embassy of Japan while working together in previous projects.
ARDE has been working in water management throughout Rwanda over the past 13 years. This is the third time the organization has received a similar grant under the GGP recipient, having previously benefited the same grant to implement similar projects in Muhanga and Kamonyi Districts in 2015 and 2018 respectively.
Most importantly, Imai said that the embassy is supporting the project of improving water access because water and sanitation are one of the priority sectors not only for the Japanese Embassy here but also as the government of Japan.
“We are very keen to support as much as possible the basic needs of people of Rwanda including water and sanitation,” He explained.
