Infrastructure and Connectivity
Water Emergency Relief Project (WERP)
Our Goal
Afghanistan faces several challenges in ensuring access to water—weak water supply systems and services, inadequate access to safe drinking water, and low agricultural water productivity. Weak and fragmented water sector institutions exacerbate the problem, impacting access to drinking water and water for irrigation. To address these challenges, the World Bank’s support is aimed at enhancing access to both safe drinking water and irrigation water services in selected rural areas.
How We Deliver
The support will be delivered through three components: (a) provision of emergency water supply in identified rural areas; (b) improved surface water irrigation using solar technologies in selected rural areas; and (c) technical training and public awareness campaigns.
Provision of emergency water supply in identified rural areas involves constructing and rehabilitating climate-resilient water supply systems, supporting a public awareness campaign focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) with special attention to women and girls, and providing access to water supply and sanitation services in public institutions. This is expected to enhance access to improved water sources, especially for women.
Improved surface water irrigation using solar technologies in selected rural areas involves providing financing support for off-grid solar systems and energy efficient equipment. The use of solar-powered water pumping systems will bolster farmers’ access to irrigation water. This component will pilot the Energy as a Service (EaaS) model by contracting private energy service companies (PESCs) to construct, install, and handle the operations and maintenance of solar-powered irrigation pumps and associated equipment and services. By contracting and engaging with PESCs, the renewable energy market will grow and consolidate.
Technical training and public awareness campaigns involves support for developing technical training modules to build the capacity of water-related entities and technical experts in water resource planning and delivery. The training will be coupled with awareness campaigns on water management and WASH topics for water-related entities, communities, and professionals. Enhanced technical capabilities and awareness will lead to a better understanding and adoption of water management and conservation practices.
By focusing on emergency water supply, clean irrigation technologies, and capacity building, the project will help improve and sustain urgent water supply services for household and agricultural use.