The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) signed a $15 million loan agreement with the government of Malawi to increase water supply and expand sanitation systems in Dowa Town and nearby areas to improve living conditions for an estimated 100,000 residents. OFID is also providing a US$350,000 grant to co-finance a technical and economic feasibility study for a new airport in Mzuzu City.
Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, Director-General of the OPEC Fund, signed the water and sanitation sector loan agreement during his visit to Malawi. “Clean water is fundamental to the health and well-being of local communities, as well as to social and economic progress. This is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal #6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. “This partnership is a welcome contribution to OPEC’s commitment to sustainable development, and I have great pride in seeing the fruits of our partnership during my visit to Malawi.”
Project objectives include the construction of a water treatment plant with a capacity of 14,300 m3/day, the installation of a pumping station and a 51 km-long distribution pipeline, as well as the installation of new communal water points and the rehabilitation of existing ones. The project includes replacing the sewage system at the Dowa district hospital and installing sanitation facilities at the Dzaleka refugee camp.