Kyrgyz Republic: Water Supply and Sanitation Universal Access Program (WASUAP)

Though, some progress has been made, still the access to drinking water and sanitation is not sustainable in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Less than 1/3 of (municipal or community-led) service providers are fully operational and only 9% are financially sustainable. The infrastructure deteriorates, tariffs are below cost-recovery and operational efficiency is low (non-revenue water above 50 %).

To address this systemic challenge, the authorities plan to establish the new sector of professional services providers for rural area by aggregating the management, operation, and maintenance into district water and sanitation professional service providers. In this context, the Kyrgyz Government is embarking on an investment program to achieve universal access within the next 10 years.

The World Bank prepared the first phase of “Kyrgyz Republic: Water Supply and Sanitation Universal Access Program-1” aiming at focused investments the water infrastructure in unserved and underserved rural settlements and small towns and institutinal reforms.

To increase access to water supply and sanitation services and improve the service service delivery capacity in selected areas in the Kyrgyz Republic.

SDC will contribute to the project with a component focusing on institutional development of a new yet to be established professional district level water service providers.

Beneficiaries

• 450,000 people in 126 rural villages and small towns in Chui, Issyk-Kul, and Osh region.
• 19,000 people will benefit from household sanitation interventions
• Approximately 115,000 people (mostly children) will directly benefit from investments in sanitation facilities and associated hygiene and behaviour change

Target group

• 10 out of 40 District Water Service and sanitation providers

Outcome 1: People with access to basic water and sanitation services and enhanced resilience to climate risk.

Outcome 2: Water supply and sanitation service providers achieving and maintaining an operating cost coverage ratio of 100 percent.

Expected results:  

1.1. Climate-resilient water supply systems constructed or rehabilitated

1.2. New and improved metered household connections

1.3. New and improved sanitation facilities at households and public institutions constructed

1.4. FSM services operational and wastewater reuse introduced

2.1. Rural water supply management models consolidated and adopted

2.2. Continuity of water supply increased

2.3. Increased cost recovery ratio

2.4. Sector professionals (including women) trained and employed in the water sector

2.5. WSS subprojects designed and ready for implementation

2.6. New financing sources including from the private sector unlocked

Results from previous phases:   N/A

• Water Use Permits in KG
• Climate Resilient Water Services Project, World Bank;
• Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank