According to the Bank’s website, the Project Development Objective is to: (i) increase access to basic sanitation services, and (ii) generate local employment in the sanitation sector.

The Project aims to improve livelihoods in Aksu district - particularly for vulnerable groups - by expanding sanitation access, creating jobs, and strengthening climate resilience. With 80 percent of the population lacking adequate sanitation, it will help reduce disease and pollution while generating employment through FSM and reuse-related opportunities. Treated sludge will be promoted as fertilizer for non-food crops, cutting reliance on costly chemical inputs and supporting climate adaptation. Community-led efforts will drive health, economic, and environmental improvements, building a more resilient and empowered Aksu community. The Project includes three components:The Project includes three components:

Component 1: Developing Sanitation and Fecal Sludge Treatment Infrastructure will finance the construction of a combined wastewater and fecal sludge treatment plant to enable sludge reuse and by-product generation (Sub-Component 1.1: Combined Wastewater and Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant), and the construction and rehabilitation of on-site sanitation systems for vulnerable households (Sub-component 1.2: On-Site Sanitation Improvements).

Component 2: Establishing FSM Services, Local Job Creation and Community Awareness will support creation of FSM units to manage, operate, and maintain sanitation infrastructure and service delivery, a certified vocational training program, and quality assurance and marketing of Sludge By-Products (Sub-component 2.1: Establishment of Sanitation and FSM operators and Vocational Training). It will also support community engagement to raise awareness on FSM and resource recovery benefits (Sub-component 2.2: Community Awareness and Behavior Change Campaign).

Component 3: Project Management and Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Knowledge Dissemination will finance overall project implementation, project monitoring and evaluation, and sharing of project learnings and results.

The construction and operations of the facilities can pose significant environmental risks and impacts that must be carefully considered to ensure safe operations. The potentially significant environmental risks resulting from the proposed project include: (i) Soil contamination; (ii) Surface Water Pollution; (iii) Ground Water and Soil contamination; (iv) Air Pollution Faecal sludge (v) Odor Nuisance;. (vi) Greenhouse Gas Emissions; and (Vii) Resource Depletion, as the processing plants require water, energy, and chemicals. On-site sewerage infrastructure, including septic tanks and pipe connections, entails a variety of risks that must be mitigated. These risks which could materialize during construction and operation include bad location, poorly designed, constructed, or maintained septic systems which can lead to the seepage of untreated wastewater into the surface and groundwater. The construction and installation of septic tanks pose significant OHS risks to workers: exposure to harmful substances, physical injuries, and hazardous working conditions. During operation, there are also OHS related risks due to exposure of workers and communities to pathogens and parasites.

The Social Risk is rated as Moderate. The Project may adversely impact vulnerable groups due to new costs and user fees for sludge collection and transportation. These financial burdens need to be carefully assessed and mitigated during project implementation to ensure that they do not disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, drawing on the approaches used in active water supply projects to support low-income families. Physical or economic displacement is a social risk that may occur due to the land acquisition needed to construct facilities and associated infrastructure. Regarding potential land acquisition and resettlement impacts, as well as workers' and community health and safety risks, the Project will assess and mitigate such risks using the same approach utilized in other World Bank-funded projects, particularly under the WSSUAP.

Total Project Cost: US$ 4.73 million
Japan Social Development Fund: US$ 4.73 million

CONTACT POINT - World Bank

Task Team Leader: Verena Schaidreiter
Title: Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist
Email: vschaidreiter@worldbank.org

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint