EU pledges more support for Mwanza projects
MWANZA: THE European Union (EU) has expressed its willingness to extend its support, following remarkable development its delegation observed in ongoing projects in Mwanza.
The projects include urban development, water and sanitation, innovation and economic opportunities, among others, which have been implemented through, among others, Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation (LV WATSAN), as well as Green and Smart Cities (SASA) programmes.
The EU Ambassador to Tanzania, Jean-Marc Pisani, made the pledge over the weekend during the delegation’ visit in Mwanza, saying that: European Union and its development partners- Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Enabel (Belgium) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) is translating European investments into tangible benefits for citizens through improved infrastructure and public services, strengthened urban governance, support to innovation and entrepreneurship and greater opportunities for women and young people.
“Earlier this year, a new contribution agreement was signed with AFD to advance the next phase of investments, which will further improve water services, sanitation infrastructure and climate resilience in the Lake Victoria Basin,” he said.
Again, he added, through GIZ’s PROWAS programme, The team Europe is also supporting efforts to improve water security and climate resilience in urban areas.
In Mwanza’s Nyegezi area, innovative measures to reduce non-revenue water have already contributed to more efficient water distribution, helping conserve scarce resources while improving service delivery for residents, he added.
The SASA Regional Coordinator, Patrick Karango, affirmed that the community is in different approaches benefitting from the programme, including the over 500 youth whose business ideas have been already put into practice.
He explained that the ideas have been submitted through the local economic development’s SASA segment, in which the beneficiaries undergo training in line with one’s idea.
Then the programme provides financial support in terms of seed money, for potential ideas, with beneficiaries already engaging in different entrepreneurship activities.
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“Some have been engaging in the blue economy after they have undergone training in the Fisheries education and Training Agency,” he said.
Similarly, SASA provides digital skills to help the youth advertise their products and tap international markets, he added.
“And improvement of the markets in Nyamagana and Ilemela Councils has recently taken off through the Programme, as part of environmental sanitation and job creation, among other benefits,” he said.
At Butimba Water Treatment Plant, the Director form Mwanza Urban Water and Sanitation Authority expressed gratitude to the delegation, after it reaffirmed its commitment to expand the water network in efforts to cover the underserved community.
According to him, some contracts have been already signed, including the one that will enable the Butimba to produce 170 million litres per day, from the current 48 million.
“We expect this project to reduce the water scarcity to over 95 percent. The upcoming project is also for more improvement in waste water systems as part of environmental preservation,” he said.
