The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has signed an ODA loan agreement totalling ¥5,412mn (US$348.5mn) for the Jendouba Rural Water Supply Project with Tunisia.

The aim of the project is to improve access to water in the farming villages of northwest Tunisia, which have the lowest water supply service coverage in the country. In the target region of Jendouba, water supply service coverage stands at 69.8% – the lowest nationwide.

With improved access to water, the standard of living and regional economy will be positively affected. The proceeds of the loan will be used for the construction and development of water supply facilities, including the penstock and distribution network, and procurement of the necessary equipment and materials, including pumps and water pipes.

Because of efforts made by the Tunisian government to increase access to safe drinking water, the country’s urban areas have achieved almost 100% access to water. However, the figure in rural area is only 84.9%.

In particular, the rural areas in the northwest region of Tunisia have inadequate access to drinking water due to a scarcity of groundwater, rugged terrain, and the scattered locations of small villages.