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Angola has secured US$124.4 million in finance to support the first phase of its Coastal Towns Inclusive Sanitation Project.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$75 million loan for the scheme, and the Africa Growing Together Fund, sponsored by China, has committed US$49.4 million to co-finance the project. 

The funds will be used to improve access to sanitation services in the coastal towns of Benguela, Baía Farta, Catumbela and Lobito, which have a combined population of 1.4 million.

The first phase involves:

• Rehabilitation and construction of 65km of sewer pipelines (49km in Benguela and 16km in Lobito) and 10 pumping stations (5 in Benguela and 5 in Lobito);
• Rehabilitation and expansion of two wastewater treatment ponds in Benguela and Lobito with combined capacity of 33,000m3/day;
• Construction of a faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) with a capacity of 750m3/day to service Benguela and Baía Farta; 
• Construction of a FSTP with a capacity of 510m3/day to service Lobito;
• Construction of 13 sludge transfer stations (3 in Baía Farta, 6 in Benguela and 4 in Lobito);
• Provision of operation and maintenance equipment; 
• Provision of eight vacuum trucks and 16 vacuum tugs for sludge collection and transportation by the service providers;
• Connection of 9,869 customers to the sewer service in Lobito and Benguela;
• Provision of 17,000 vulnerable households with improved sanitation facilities;  
• Improvements to the sanitation facilities of 240 public schools and 66 health facilities, and installation of three public toilets in marketplaces.

The total cost of the first phase of project has been estimated at US$150 million. The government of Angola will cover the remaining US$25.6 million through cash contributions.

The funds will also cover capacity-building for young professionals and technicians as sanitation sector champions. 

Angola's National Directorate of Water recently invited expressions of interest (EOIs) from consultants for the construction supervision and contract administration for the rehabilitation and construction of the sewerage lines in Benguela and Lobito, and the expansion and rehabilitation of the treatment ponds in the two towns. The deadline for submitting EOIs is 26 June.

The Coastal Towns Inclusive Sanitation Project forms part of the government’s efforts to improve water supply and sanitation services in line with Angola’s national development plan.

As of 2020, just 57% of Angola’s population had access to basic drinking water supply and 52% to basic sanitation. Only 37% had access to water on household premises, and only 27% had handwashing facilities with soap and water available at home. 

Access to water and sanitation are a constraint on public health and economic activity. Diarrhoea is the primary cause of mortality for the under-fives and responsible for almost 15% of overall mortality in Angola.

The AfDB has also provided US$123.7 million in support for a project to improve water and sanitation sector governance, access and service delivery in the provinces of Bengo, Cunene, Cuanza Sul, Namibe, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, and Cabinda.

Photo: Coast town in Angola (Supplied by AfDB)