Kampala, Uganda, April 7, 2010
—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is helping increase access to safe and affordable drinking water in Uganda by training members of the country’s government and private sector on how to improve efficiencies and attract additional investment into the water sector.
IFC’s Uganda Small Scale Infrastructure Provider Water Program (SSIP), in partnership with the Austrian Development Agency, is conducting training sessions in Kampala from April 7-14 for representatives from Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, local government, and private sector water operators.
The training sessions will help participants improve their knowledge in structuring and managing public-private partnerships (PPPs) and will also help increase private sector participation in Uganda’s water sector.
Dan Kasirye, IFC Senior Investment Officer, said, “IFC is committed to supporting the government of Uganda’s efforts to expand the supply of piped water to small towns. The goal of these training sessions is to improve service delivery standards, particularly in water supply systems in small towns”.
IFC’s Uganda SSIP Water Program aims to improve the capacity of stakeholders the water sector in smaller towns by providing practical support to develop, implement and manage PPPs. The program is also facilitating access to finance for private operators from local banks to increase funding for piped water projects in small towns.
IFC is the only international financial institution focused exclusively on the private sector, the engine of sustainable development in emerging markets. Along with IBRD, IFC is currently seeking a capital increase to strengthen its ability to create opportunity for the poor in developing countries—including supporting the growth of basic infrastructure, including access to water and sanitation.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information visit
www.ifc.org
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