On behalf of BMZ, GTZ is supporting the Eritrean Government in improving and expanding water supply systems in four regional towns in western Eritrea, facilitating access to clean drinking water for the poor. Engineers and technicians are being trained and wells, pipeline networks and the supply infrastructure extended. In addition, GTZ is engaged in setting up the legal, organisational and financial framework for autonomous, cost-covering, localised operating companies. Appropriate water resource management enables households, agriculture and industry to use the available water in keeping with economic, ecological and social standards. Importance is also attached to raising awareness among authorities, water utility enterprises and consumers that water is a valuable and scarce resource.

Small-scale immediate measures are also being implemented to deal with particularly acute personnel or materials bottlenecks.

Cooperation on water as a priority area is carried out in close consultation with the KfW development bank, which finances a large part of the investment costs, and with various international development partners operating at regional level. Short-term experts are also assigned by the German Senior Expert Service (SES).