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Safe, affordable water supplies for 56,000 Kenyans delivered by a multi-sector partnership

An estimated 56,000 of Nairobi’s poorest residents will benefit from a programme initiated by four partner organisations. Co-funded by Borealis, Borouge and OFID, with implementation and project management by WSUP, the programme will deliver a safe and reliable water service costing a tenth of what residents currently pay to private water vendors.
Water for the World™ project in Nairobi, Kenya

© WSUP 2014

Water for the World™, a joint Borealis and Borouge Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) have joined forces to supply Nairobi’s Mukuru Sinai and Korogocho informal settlements with improved access to drinking water. This will be achieved through a planned approach to network design using high quality PE pipes and pre-paid water dispensers to provide water at a much lower unit tariff than they currently pay.

“Using high quality PE pipes, we will reduce the non-revenue water lost due to leaks and illegal connections that impact on Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company’s financial ability to supply informal settlements around the city,” explains Borealis Chief Executive Mark Garrett. “The expected lifetime of these pipes is three times as long as existing pipes and higher durability results in fewer pipe breakages, less contamination and leaks, and lower maintenance costs.”

“Based on our significant experience in developing sustainable water systems in all kinds of terrains and urban environments, we are able to bring our expertise in plastic pipe solutions and networks to the people living in this Kenyan settlement”, says Wim Roels, CEO Borouge’s Marketing & Sales Company.  “In Asia, we have also supported several local communities in India, Vietnam and China through our Water for the World program, by facilitating access of safe drinking water and better sanitation to schools and villages. This collaboration with WSUP is another opportunity where we engage with an international NGO to bring affordable and safe drinking water to more homes.”

WSUP Chief Executive Sam Parker notes that the key objective is to supply drinking water at an affordable price: “We achieve this by applying a model that strengthens the capacity of service providers to extend their services into low-income areas and informal settlements on a profit-basis, at the same time as offering water at a price less than half a cent per jerry can.”

Parker highlights the success of existing WSUP programmes in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique and Zambia that have adopted the model, which promotes financial, institutional, environmental and social sustainability: “Our objective is to strengthen the capacity of the local water utilities to develop a commercially viable approach for service delivery to poor customers which can ultimately help transform cities and address the growing challenge of urbanisation.”

Mr. Rachid Bencherif, Head of OFID’s Grants Unit believes it will be a showcase to be replicated in other regions where clean water supplies are in demand: “OFID’s principal objective is to provide the finance that allows essential infrastructure to be built, thus alleviating poverty and stimulating economic growth. OFID’s projects focus on meeting basic needs, which include clean water and sanitation, alongside food, energy services, healthcare and education.” 

END

For further information please contact:

Virginia Mesicek
External Communications Manager, Borealis Group
Tel. +43 (0)1 22 400 772 (Vienna, Austria)
e-mail: virginia.mesicek@borealisgroup.com

Amira Abdulla
Vice President, Vice President, Global Communications, Borouge
Tel: +97 126 070 807 (Abu Dhabi, UAE) 
e-mail: amira.abdulla@borouge.com

Water for the World™ project in Nairobi, Kenya

© WSUP 2014

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Water for the World™ project in Nairobi, Kenya 56,000 of Nairobi’s poorest residents will benefit from a programme which delivers safe, reliable water service at a lower price.
© WSUP 2014
Media Contact
Group Media desk
Virginia Wieser, Lena Lehner
+43 1 22 400 899 (Vienna, Austria)
media@borealisgroup.com

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