A note from the World Bank, to which the Lusa agency had access this Tuesday, states that this money also aims to promote greater climate resilience in urban and rural areas of the provinces of Zaire, Benguela, Huíla, Cuanza Sul, Cuando Cubango. , Cunene, Namibe and Luanda, benefiting around 1.2 million people.
The document highlights that climate change threatens water security and livelihoods in Angola and the country's high degree of exposure to extreme weather events further threatens its economic stability and the security and well-being of its population.
"The most recent drought that hit the country, between November 2020 and January 2021, was recorded as the worst drought in the last 40 years", highlights the World Bank in its note.
The Climate Resilience and Water Security Project in Angola (Reclima) will finance investments in infrastructure in urban and rural areas, as well as institutional development activities to increase water security and help manage extreme weather effects.
"Climate change is a reality that can no longer be ignored and Angola is one of the countries in the region that suffers the most from its consequences. The World Bank is pleased to support Angola, putting in place sustainable adaptation measures that mitigate the impact of climate change on people and their livelihoods," said Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Country Director for Angola.
According to the note, the Reclima project has three components, which comprise the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply services in urban and peri-urban areas, as well as the maintenance and repair of rural water supply systems.
The project establishes, as a second component, support to the selected provinces and their municipalities, with investments in the development of water resources, which include the construction of infrastructures at the community level, to increase reliable access to water resources, through the rehabilitation and construction of sand dams, cisterns, small reservoirs, piped water supply, boreholes, protected wells and soil and water conservation measures in hydrographic basins.
The third component of Reclima, co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) through a loan of 150 million dollars, consists of project management support and inter-institutional coordination.
