According to the Bank’s website, the Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve access to water and sanitation services in selected regions of The Gambia and strengthen the operational and financial performance of the Water Company.

The water supply and sanitation services in The Gambia are currently facing a significant crisis due to ongoing challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the 2023 Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report, only 48% of the population has access to safely managed water services, with 68% access in urban areas compared to just 12% in rural areas. Access to basic sanitation services is also a major concern, as only 28% of the population has access to safely managed sanitation, while 15% still practice open defecation, particularly in rural regions. Additionally, the country lacks adequate wastewater treatment, with about 80% of wastewater improperly managed, leading to groundwater contamination and posing significant public health risks.

Three key localities in the Greater Banjul Area (GBA) - Banjul, Kanifing, and Brikama - are home to approximately 63% of the country's population. The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) currently produces 139,000 cubic meters of water daily, which is insufficient to meet the demand. The GBA mainly relies on boreholes that draw water from a sub-shallow aquifer; however, this water source is vulnerable to contamination from untreated sewage and saltwater intrusion caused by rising sea levels related to climate change.

The Gambia Water and Sanitation Project (WASAP) aims to support the government's efforts to address the crisis in water and sanitation services in the Greater Banjul Area (GBA) region. This operation includes a series of activities organized into four mutually reinforcing components, which are summarized below:
- Component 1: Improving Access to Urban Drinking Water Services (US$14 million)
- Component 2: Improving Access to Sanitation Services ($18.0 million)
Component 2.1: Urban Sanitation (16.5 million)
* Emergency wastewater management ($5.0 million)
* Expansion of Kotu Wastewater System (US$3.2 million)
* Construction of a Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant ($8.3 million)
Component 2.2: Rural Sanitation Development ($1.5 million)
* Construction of Safely Managed Latrines in Targeted Rural Areas ($0.9 million)
* Development of a National Sanitation Master Plan (US$0.6 M)
- Component 3. Institutional Reform and Capacity Building for Sustainable Water Services ($6.0 million)
* Support to sector reform and NAWEC operational and financial efficacy improvement ($3.0 million)
* Supporting transboundary cooperation on the Senegal-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin ($0.5 million)
* Enhancing water resources monitoring and conservation ($2.5 million)
- Component 4. Project management: ($2 million)
- Component 5. Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) * Component 5 CERC $0 million
TOTAL: $30 million

The project’s environmental risk rating is Substantial. Key identified environmental risks and potential adverse impacts include vegetation clearing, habitat disturbance, biodiversity impacts, noise and dust emissions, soil and water contamination from wastewater, sludge, chemicals. Construction activities may also lead to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) risks—such as injuries and accidents during construction and equipment installation— alongside community health and safety concerns as well as operational risks related to sludge management, chemicals handling, and accidental releases.

The project social risk rating is Substantial. Component 2 involves enhancements to sanitation services, including urban efforts like Emergency Wastewater Management and a Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant, as well as rural sanitation development. Component 3 aims to improve urban access to drinking water through projects centered on water supply infrastructure. Primary risks and adverse impacts are expected to include land acquisition, land use restrictions, involuntary resettlement. There is also a potential for opposition to component 2, particularly concerning the fecal sludge treatment plant, due to perceptions of fecal waste and concerns regarding proximity to communities. To a large extent, the risk of conflict may increase if community engagement is not ensured in managing site selection, incidents or accidents, community and worker grievances, and issues related to abuse, exploitation, and sexual harassment.

Total Project Cost: US$ 40.00 million
IDA Grant: US$ 30.00 million

The National Water and Electricity Corporation (NAWEC) is the primary state-owned utility company in The Gambia responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, water, and sewerage services.

CONTACT POINT - World Bank

Task Team Leader: Sylvestre Bea
Title: Senior Water Specialist
Email: sbea@worldbank.org

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