Overview of the Project

Background Information and Project Developmental Objective

Government of Malawi (GoM), through Blantyre Water Board (BWB) and Blantyre City Council (BCC), with financial support from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank (WB), intends to implement the Blantyre Water and Sanitation Project (BWSP). The Project Developmental Objective (PDO) is to improve access to safely managed water supply and sanitation services in Blantyre, the Blantyre Metropolitan Area, and to enhance the operational and financial efficiency of BWB. The project interventions are therefore expected to contribute to improved access to water and sanitation for the residents of Blantyre, thus improving the city’s health outcomes and quality of life, and enabling the business environment for its residents and BWB and BCC.

Project Beneficiaries

The project is expected to directly benefit over 500,000 residents in the Blantyre metropolitan area with improved water and sanitation services as a result of rehabilitation and upgrade of the water and sewerage infrastructure and solid waste management upgrades, including the construction of a new landfill, and improved collection services. The sewerage upgrades will reduce environmental pollution in the peri-urban areas where the poorer reside and river streams that are an important source of water for multiple uses in the city.

Estimated Cost, Project Duration and Project Components

The estimated cost of the project is US$130 million and is expected to run from June 2023 to December 2028.