Inter-American Development Bank, 10/2/2012
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will support a group of pilot projects in rural and peri-urban areas in Colombia to improve potable water and sanitation services in very poor communities.
According to data from Colombia’s National Administrative Statistics Department (DANE 2005 census), in rural areas of Colombia water service coverage was around 45 percent and sewerage coverage 16.8 percent.
The demonstration projects will seek to produce models for the formulation of a large-scale potable water supply and waste water management program in rural areas. The program would be financed with the help of an IDB loan for $60 million to the Colombian government for activities that would be carried out in rural areas in the departments of Cauca, Nariño, Antioquia, Bolivar, Cordoba, and Guajira.
“We will create sustainable models that can be replicated in other high-poverty areas in the country where it is critical to improve access and improve service quality,” said Rafael de la Cruz, IDB Representative in Colombia.
Initial projects for rural schools in the department of Magdalena will benefit some 25 rural public school centers.
Financing for these pilot projects will be provided by the AquaFund (a program supported with funds from the IDB, the PepsiCo Foundation, the government of Switzerland, and the government of Austria), and the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
The cost of the pilot projects is estimated at $2.1 million, and they will be carried out by the non-governmental organization Give to Colombia (G2C), which receives resources from the Embassy of Japan and the General Electric Foundation. In addition, PepsiCo Colombia is providing key resources to implement the strategy for disseminating the projects.
The project will mainly focus on sanitary infrastructure, technical support for community water systems, and sanitary improvements inside of homes in the country’s peri-urban areas.
“For 40 years, the PepsiCo Foundation has supported projects that benefit extremely poor communities. Our Alliance with the IDB, which is our strategic partner in Latin America through the AquaFund, seeks to replicate these efforts to assist those most in need. In Colombia, these efforts are beginning to produce a positive impact in rural communities that face difficulties in providing water and sanitation,” said Sue Tsokris, the Foundation’s vice president.
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) provides financial products and technical resources to assist countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce poverty and inequality in a sustainable manner. As a leading source of multilateral financing, the IDB seeks to create opportunities for cooperation in the region.
About AquaFund
AquaFund provides resources to reach goals established within the framework of the IDB’s Water and Sanitation Initiative and the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations (UN). It facilitates investment in water and sanitation and water resources management, solid waste, and waste waters. It supports services related to these areas that are sustainable and accessible for the poor. The Fund also helps its IDB client countries to address new challenges presented by climate change, the rapid degradation freshwater ecosystems, and increasing water insecurity.
The PepsiCo Foundation
Established in 1962, the Pepsico Foundation is the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo. The foundation provides support for eligible non-profit organizations. It also seeks to develop strategic alliances and sustainable programs in poor regions that present opportunities to improve health, education, and the environment.
About G2C
Give to Colombia (G2C) is an organization established in the United States and Colombia that promotes international cooperation with Colombia through the creation and facilitation of alliances among international donor organizations and Colombian non-profit groups. G2C advises business, institutional, and individual donors on issues relating to channeling resources, expertise, and technology for high-impact educational, health, economic development, and environmental projects.
Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction
In 2001, the Japanese government provided $30 million from the Japan Special Fund to establish the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JPO). The JPO provides financial support for technical cooperation grants for activities that reduce poverty in IDB borrowing member countries.