Projects > Brief descriptions > Institutional development of the water sector

Contact person

Ms Ariane Borgstedt
Email: ariane.borgstedt@giz.de

Institutional development of the water sector

Programme description

Title: Institutional development of the water sector
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Yemen
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Water and Environment
Overall term: 2006 to 2015

Context

Yemen is suffering an acute water crisis. Its water resources are being massively overused. Drinking water supply and sanitation as well as water resources management are completely inadequate in many regions. National sector organisations, water suppliers, local administrations and water basin committees are only able to carry out their responsibilities to a limited extent.

Because of internal organisational deficits, the lack of appropriate training for personnel, and poor mechanisms for cooperation between the different actors, there is a shortage of management staff and specialists at all levels.

Although Yemen is one of the water-poorest countries in the world, its water resources – often fossil – are being used without any controls. About 90 % of the groundwater abstracted is used in agriculture, while the supply of good quality drinking water to both the urban and rural populations is inadequate. So too is the sewerage system. Across the country, there is a very high rate of water-borne diseases. While demand of water continues to increase, heavy water losses are caused by irrigation of the luxury drug crop, qat.

Objective

The municipal water utilities and the actors responsible for water resource management perform their tasks in line with the National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Plan (NWSSIP).

Approach

The programme consists of five components: consolidation of sectoral reform; human resource development; development of autonomous, commercial water and sanitation utilities; decentralisation of water resource management; and strengthening local actors in arid zones to promote sustainable water use.

The ongoing second phase involves interventions at multiple levels. Thus the programme is supporting planning activities in the ministry, and is helping to build competences for the steering and regulation of the sector. It is assisting about ten water utilities in their operations, and is also helping at least three water basin authorities with the coordination and application of international strategies and principles for water resource management.

Specific activities

Policy advice for the government on the sectoral reforms
Establishing a regulatory unit and a water federation in the urban water sector
Organisational development and technical advice
Incorporating basic and advanced training into a personnel development concept
Decentralisation and commercialisation of water supply and sanitation utilities
Development of efficient water supply and sanitation utilities
Support for the decentralisation process in the water sector
Introduction of integrated water resources management (establishing water basin committees and water users groups)
Improving water management and the water supply in water-scarce municipalities.

Results achieved so far

Cost recovery and the collection of fees by the water utilities have significantly improved.
Well-managed water supply and sanitation utilities exist following the decentralisation of the sector, and because the utilities have been anchored in civil society through the work of advisory committees and the dialogue with water users.
More than 2.5 million people have gained connections to a better water supply. More than 1.75 million people have a connection to the sanitation system.
74 % of the target group in the working area have given a positive assessment of their supply situation.
The water utilities and the Ministry of Water have agreed on the principles to use in human resources development.
One water basin committee is now working well enough to satisfy the requirements of the local governor, which means it is now financed through the governorate budget.
17 communities in three water-scarce districts are implementing measures contained in the local development plans (ceramic water filters, rainwater harvesting, and sanitation).

The programme involves close cooperation with other German organisations: KfW Entwicklungsbank, the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM) and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). It also works together with a number of international donors, such as the World Bank, the Netherlands and UNDP.