According to the Bank’s website, the objective of this project is to increase the sustainable access and management of groundwater by people in rural areas of Djibouti.

With the DJIBOUTI GROUNDWATER RESILIENCE AND WATER SUPPLY PROJECT (P511492) Djibouti will be joining as phase II the MPA Horn of Africa - Groundwater for Resilience Project (P512774), which started with Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). This regional project aims to increase sustainable access and management of groundwater resources in the Horn of Africa's borderlands, addressing urgent water supply needs and fostering transboundary cooperation.

The project's development objective is to increase the sustainable access and management of groundwater in rural areas of Djibouti through investments that pair infrastructure with robust operations and maintenance (O&M) arrangements.

The project comprises four components:
(i) delivering inclusive groundwater services to priority areas via rehabilitation and construction of potable water systems, complemented by fit-for-purpose O&M models (such as operator contracts, service-level agreements, and community-based maintenance with clear accountability and financing mechanisms);
(ii) generating groundwater information and strengthening regional and national institutions, including improved hydrogeological mapping, monitoring networks, data systems, and capacity building for policy, regulation, and asset management;
(iii) project management, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), knowledge management, and learning; and
(iv) a Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) to enable rapid response to eligible crises and emergencies.Expected outcomes include improved and reliably maintained groundwater access for communities, strengthened regional and national groundwater management institutions capable of overseeing asset management and O&M, professionalized operation and maintenance of rural water supply to reduce downtime and extend asset life, enhanced cooperation among participating countries through IGAD-facilitated platforms and knowledge exchange, and increased resilience to water scarcity driven by climate variability and population growth.

The ESRC rating is Substantial. Environmental risk is Moderate and social risk is Substantial. On environmental risks, there is the potential for localized but potentially significant impacts, particularly related to groundwater resources and waste management from desalination, and the need for detailed site-specific assessments during preparation. Key potential environmental risks associated with the project include those typically linked to construction activities (drilling, excavation, building) and operation of water infrastructure in arid and semi-arid environments. These encompass pollution, resource consumption, waste generation, potential impacts on biodiversity and habitats, occupational and community health and safety. The magnitude and spatial extent of these risks are anticipated to be primarily site-specific and localized, associated with individual infrastructure development sites (boreholes, wells, surface water harvesting structures, desalination units, regional center construction/rehabilitation). Most potential impacts, such as dust, noise, and construction waste, are expected to be temporary and reversible with the implementation of standard mitigation measures. However, the potential for groundwater contamination or improper brine disposal from desalination units could have more significant and longer-term consequences if not adequately managed. The project's focus on rural and borderland areas, some of which may be ecologically sensitive or support nomadic populations, necessitates careful site selection and environmental screening.

The social risk rating is Substantial. Activities under Component 1 (groundwater infrastructure and small-scale irrigation development), could lead to a range of social risks and impacts. Key social risks include: conflict and social cohesion risks of both endogenous and exogenous communities due to natural resource access and which can impact traditional livelihoods (nomadic herders in Djibouti and those of border communities); land acquisition affecting rural communities exacerbated by complex land systems, including customary and communal land rights; physical and/or economic displacement especially of vulnerable groups who rely on traditional access to land and water for their livelihoods and cultural identity; the potential presence of Indigenous peoples in the border areas with Ethiopia; exclusion of vulnerable groups including migrants from other countries (both in search of water and accessing traditional customary land use systems), women, youth and persons with disabilities, and internally displaced person; labor risks including informal labor (workers with no contracts especially for vulnerable laborers such as IDPs, migrants), child labor and forced labor, as well as exposure of local communities to communicable diseases through labor exposure; SEA/SH risks due to labor influx exacerbated by limited ability to regularly monitor the project due to remoteness and client capacity; weak stakeholder engagement practices including exclusion or limited access or participation of vulnerable groups; weak grievance management inclusion SEA/SH-GM management. Weak client monitoring and reporting is also a risk as E&S capacity PIU is very stretched and they do not have capacity to manage SEA/SH risks. The project is in remote areas which may impact quality monitoring and reporting.

Total Project Cost: US$ 36.50 million
IDA Grant: US$ 36.50 million

CONTACT POINT - World Bank

Task Team Leader: Chris Fischer
Title: Senior Water Specialist
Email: cfischer1@worldbank.org

TTL Contact: Safaa Bahije
Job Title: Water Resources Specialist
Email: sbahije@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