MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 7, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The Head of DFID Somalia, Phil Evans, visited Somaliland in February 2016 to attend a High Level Delegation meeting to discuss and review development support to Somaliland. Mr Evans together with Ambassadors to Somalia from Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands and accompanied by Government of Somaliland officials visited Hargeisa Urban Water Supply Upgrading Project which is funded by the Somaliland Development Fund (SDF). The new water pipeline replaces the 40-year-old existing pipeline system with a new high-capacity single-transmission main, thus bringing more water into the municipal system. The new water supply pipeline, together with the new Geed Deeble pumping station that will be constructed over the coming 12 months, is designed for a capacity of 20 million litres of water per day. As a first step to increase the water production, four new boreholes at Hora Haadley are currently nearing completion, with very promising yields and the project is expected to be completed by January 2017. These important infrastructure works will lay the foundation for other ongoing and future water expansion works that will give an additional 132,000 people in Hargeisa access to water.
During the visit, Somaliland Minister for National Planning and Development, Mr Ali Hussein Ismail, thanked DFID and its funding partners for their continued support to the Somaliland Development Fund and added that project was a good example of the principle of aid effectiveness.
Improved water infrastructure
In supporting improved availability and access to clean and affordable water for Hargeisa residents, DFID Somalia through the Somaliland Development Fund and in partnership with the European Union are supporting the Hargeisa Urban Water Supply Upgrading Project (HUWSUP). The project is implemented by UN-Habitat, in partnership with the Hargeisa Water Agency and the Somaliland Ministry of Water Resources.
The Somaliland Development Fund (SDF) is a 4-year multi-donor fund designed to support the Government of Somaliland (GoSL) in the implementation of the National Development Plan. All projects funded by the SDF are fully aligned with the Somaliland National Development Plan. DFID has contributed £25 million out of the £50 million fund budget. Other contributions have been made by Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.
