Only 12 percent of Afghans living in rural areas have access to clean, safe drinking water. However, thanks to a new USAID program called Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation (SWSS), more than 1,000 rural communities will soon have better access to potable water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene-education programs. These activities will improve people’s health, encourage better hygiene practices, and reduce cases of waterborne disease.
The project will support national and local government agencies, Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), and other stakeholders to design, install, and operate these systems – mostly in southern and eastern Afghanistan. “The strong link with Provincial Reconstruction Teams that SWSS provides represents a novel approach for USAID, giving us tremendous outreach into rural communities throughout Afghanistan,” stated USAID representative John Smith-Sreen. “This will allow USAID to address some of the country’s most pressing water and sanitation needs while ensuring local participation and engagement in the process.”