User:LMarchetti/Sandbox

External partners have played a major role in the development of the water and sanitation sector in Tunisia. The French Development Agency AFD, the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the German development bank KfW and the World Bank are among Tunisia's major external partners in the water sector.

Multi donor projects
Water sector investment project. In 2000 the World Bank approved the first water sector investment project (PISEAU) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources with a total cost of 258 million USD. It was financed together with KfW development bank, which contributed USD 17.5 million, while the World Bank financed USD 103 million. It is not clear how the remaing resources were financed. The Main objective of the project was to promote integrated water resources management, together with a better policy for water resources conservation. The project consists of five components: An irrigation management component, a groundwater management component, a water conservation and environmental protection component, a rural drinking water supply component, and an institutional strengthening and capacity building component. The measures taken are expected to significantly improve the productivity of agriculture and increase access to drinking water for rural population. In 2007 the project was concluded.

A follow-up project (PISEAU II) was supported by the African Development Bank with €22.91 million ($31.3 million), as well as by AFD (USD 61 million), the World Bank (USD 31 million) and KfW. The project includes the improvement of conventional water resources including dams, boreholes and surface wells, as well as non-conventional water sources – wastewater and brackish water. The project’s target group is Tunisia’s rural population, across the country’s 24 governorates. The project will help improve living conditions by increasing the amount of irrigated agriculture and providing a better supply of drinking water. Furthermore the project is implemented with the participation in decisions about the choice of investments through Agricultural Development Groups (ADGs) for irrigation and drinking water. Moreover, the project intends to assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, in order to improve the water resources management in Tunisia. The closing date of the project is planned for the year 2015. The total project cost is € 122 million ($167.56 million), excluding the financing from KfW which was approved only in 2010 (check).

Network rehabilitation and extension and capacity building of ONAS. The Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), a German public-sector financial institution, co-finances together with the Agence Française de Développement, the French agency for development cooperation, the Network rehabilitation and extension and capacity building project. The total cost of the investment is about 80 million EUR. The project is implemented in the Gouvernorate of Kairouan and its aims consists in the rehabilitation and extension of the primary and secondary networks in the city of Kairouan and in the sanitation of 30 popular districts.

African Development Bank
The African Development Bank co-finances projects with other external partners in the water sector (see under multi-donor projects).

European Investment Bank
ONAS 4 rehabilitation project. In 2006 the European Investment Bank signed the ONAS 4 rehabilitation project. The total cost is EUR 90 million. The project aims to finance the collection and treatment of wastewater in different towns. The treated wastewater will be reused for farming purposes. It supports the upgrading of the primary and secondary networks in Greater Tunis; the expansion and rehabilitation of the sanitation systems in the towns of Monastir, Mahdia, Gabès, Medenine, Tataouine and Gafsa; extension of the South Hammamet treatment plant; construction of three wastewater treatment plants in the towns of Enfidha/Hergla, Menzel Temime and Tazarka/Somâa/ Mâamoura.

France
Rehabilitation and extension of 19 WWTPs. The French Development Agency (AFD) has approved a loan of EUR 18.5 million to upgrade and expand 19 wastewater treatment plants and 130 pumping stations in 11 governorates. The treated water from some plants will be reused for irrigation.

Germany
Germany co-finances projects with other external partners in the water sector through financial cooperation projects implemented by KfW.(see under multi-donor projects).

World Bank
Greater Tunis sewerage and reuse project. In 1997 the World Bank approved the Greater Tunis Sewerage and Reuse project. The total investment amounts to 107 million USD. The implementing agencies of the project are ONAS and the Ministry of Agriculture. The project will finance the improvement of urban sewerage services and drinking water supply services. The project promotes the re-use of wastewater for irrigation purposes. Furthermore the project promotes the reduction of urban pollution and the coastal degradation through the introduction of new technologies and technical assistance. The project concluded in 2005.

Urban water supply project. In 2005 the World Bank approved a USD 38 million loan to SONEDE for an urban water supply project in Tunisia. The project objective consists in improving the quality of water in Greater Tunis and other selected urban centres. In order to achieve its objective the project intends to modernize and upgrade the water supply infrastructures and enhance the sustainability of SONEPE activities. The closing date of the project is planned for the year 2012.

Tunis West sewerage. In 2006 the World Bank approved the Tunis West Sewerage project. The investment totals about USD 72 million, 67 of which is financed by the World Bank. The project aims to improve the quality of sanitation services in Greater Tunis and of the sewerage sector and promotes reuse of wastewater for irrigation and the improvement of ONAS performance through capacity building. The closing date of the project is planned for the year 2012.