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An inauguration ceremony for the Project for Rural Water Supply in the Oromia Region was held on 18 December, 2012 in Dandi Woreda, one of the project sites. This water supply project was implemented, based upon the Exchange of Notes signed between the Japanese and Ethiopian Governments on 16, July 2009. The grant Japan extended for this project was 1.029 million Japanese Yen, equivalent to about 223 million ETB (at the current exchange rate). The inauguration ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr. Hiroyuki Kishino, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia and Ato Motuma Mekassa, Head of Water, Minerals and Energy Bureau of the Oromia Regional Government, together with local government representatives and community members.
On the occasion, H.E. Mr. Hiroyuki Kishino explained that through this project 82 water facilities, (67 deep wells and15 water supply facilities utilizing natural springs), 14 water storage ponds, three elevated water storage tanks, water pipelines totaling 80 kms and 148 water distribution points were installed. In addition, some equipment necessary for the management of these facilities, such as water quality analysis kits and motor bikes, were provided to the respective communities.
H.E. Ambassador Kishino went on, “Improving access to safe water is an important policy objective in Ethiopia. However, large gap exists between urban and rural areas. In many local communities access to potable water is still a great challenge, and the western part of Oromia is no exception. This project, therefore, was aimed at increasing access to a safe and reliable water supply in the Oromia Region. 100,000 residents will benefit in the targeted 46 villages in 17 woredas, across three Zones- West Showa, Horoguduru and Jimma”. Access to potable water substantially improved during the PASDEP period (2005/06 - 2009/10), increasing from 36% to 68.5% at the national level.
H.E. Ambassador Kishino also noted that under the GTP, it is planned to raise water supply coverage from 68.5% to 98.5% at the national level in five years. During the first year of the GTP, potable water supply coverage improved from 68.5% to 73.5% at the national level, and from 54.1% to 59.5% in Oromia. However, the task of water supply still requires continued efforts by the Ethiopian Government and its development partners. In this context, H.E. Ambassador Kishino emphasized, Japan, as a long standing supporter of the water sector in Ethiopia, will remain firm to support the implementation of the GTP program.
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