National Water Supply Policy Implementation Strategy, 2016 Country/Territory Rwanda Document type Date 2016 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Water Keyword Well sinking/boreholes Capacity building Community management Water shortage/drought Financing Freshwater quality/freshwater pollution Governance Indigenous peoples Integrated management Policy/planning Freshwater resources management Pollution control Geographical area Africa, AFRICA FAO, Eastern Africa, Landlocked Developing Countries, Least Developed Countries Abstract This was prepared together with the National Water Supply Policy document and shares a similar structure with the document. For the 1st objective which is to raise rural water supply coverage to 100% by fast-tracking implementation of a strategic investment program, the implementation strategy includes: to increase access to safe water supply by increasing coverage of at least 7 percentage points every year; making estimates of funding requirements for rural water supply; changing habitat patterns by promoting grouped settlements as against the prevalent dispersed settlements; developing decentralized implementation capacities; exercising technological options by standardization and innovation; promoting household connections by subsidizing connection fees, promoting yard taps, etc.; mobilizing private-sector investments in rural water infrastructure; among others. The Strategy also implements the second objective- to ensure sustainable functionality of rural water supply infrastructure by strengthening O&M management arrangements, by the following ways; focusing on sustainability- achieved by rehabilitating the existing non-functional water schemes and the development of an effective regulation system; improving the status quo; clustering of service areas and setting up an enhanced O&M framework; tariffs and cost recovery; capacity-building programme for improved functionality; point water sources; and water-quality surveillance. The Strategy proposes to implement the 3rd objective, to ensure safe, reliable and affordable urban water supply services for all while striving for financial sustainability, by; assessing the status of urban water supply services; assessing the coverage of urban water supply; assessing the cost recovery against the affordability of urban water supply services; and ensuring operational efficiency and loss reduction; increasing production and distribution capacities. Objective 4 which is to strengthen and consolidate the sector’s institutional and capacity-building framework focuses on the institutional challenges. The Strategy adopts the following steps towards consolidation of institutional reforms and establishment of an effective institutional framework; establishing a dedicated unit within the Water Supply Implementing Agency as the planning, implementing and monitoring arm of the Ministry of Infrastructure; roll-out of the Water and Sanitation Fund as a harmonized financing mechanism nationwide; developing the implementation capacities of the district governments, recruitment of at least one water and sanitation professional and the establishment of decentralized support units of the SPIU of Water Supply Implementing Agency; consolidating the public utility in charge of urban water supply and sewerage; strengthening the regulatory framework and the role of the RURA; communication, consultation can coordination; research and knowledge management, among others. The implementation of the Policy and this Strategy is expected to be a joint responsibility of the respective government institutions and this requires clear priorities, adequate planning and management capacities and a strengthening of the sector management capacities. Full text English