GIZ and Cordaid Launch Borehole Project to Improve Water Access in Nzara and Yambio County
In a significant step towards enhancing water access for local communities, GIZ, representing German Development Cooperation, in partnership with the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid), officially launched a borehole drilling and rehabilitation project on Thursday, 14th November 2024. The initiative aims to tackle the pressing water-related challenges faced by smallholder farmers and residents in Nzara and Yambio County.
Under this collaborative project, a total of 18 boreholes will be made accessible, comprising 7 newly drilled boreholes and the rehabilitation of 11 currently nonfunctional ones. Furthermore, 3 of the rehabilitated boreholes will be upgraded to include solar-powered technology, enhancing sustainable access to clean water.
An assessment conducted in 2023 by GIZ, in cooperation with GOPA/CES, highlighted that many communities in Yambio and Nzara rely heavily on runoff surface water from streams and rivers, often lacking access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services. This initiative aligns with the fundamental human right to water and sanitation for all, underscored by Goal 6 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015.
The borehole project is part of the larger “Food and Nutrition Security and Natural Resource Management – FONA” initiative, implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in collaboration with the World Food Programme and UNICEF. This project is designed to directly support smallholder farmers and cooperatives in Nzara, Yambio, and additional areas in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, aiming to improve agricultural productivity and food diversity within local diets.
“The establishment of micro-catchment management committees and the development of integrated action plans are essential to improving natural resource management and mitigating the impacts of extreme climate events,” stated a GIZ representative. “This project prioritizes improving water access, which is a vital component of these action plans.”
The drilling and rehabilitation efforts will be executed by Greta Ruaha Drilling Company Limited in various villages across Nzara and Yambio counties.
Through these combined efforts, GIZ continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing humanitarian assistance and fostering long-term development in South Sudan, focusing on local governance, rural development, sustainable agriculture, and improved water and sanitation services.
As GIZ, working on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, underscores its commitment to sustainable development, the local communities stand to benefit significantly from improved water access and enhanced agricultural stability in the coming months.
