As part of the national policy to improve drinking water supply services in villages and rural communities, the Government of the Republic of Benin has decided to involve private operators, through a scheme of subsidized concessions.
The Rural Drinking Water Supply and Urban Wastewater Treatment Project (PEPRAU) funded by the World Bank, has decided to support the Government in its strategy of PPP development for the drinking water public service through the set-up of subsidized concession of 180 AEV (rural water supply system) throughout the national territory. This will result in new and long-lasting connections at the household level, for nearly 432,000 people living in rural centers.
Given the importance of the project, and the possibility of further extension, the World Bank deemed necessary to use local expertise to support rural communities in the preparation and implementation of these PPP transactions. Thus, six local firms gathering technical and financial expertise have been recruited and trained under the PEPRAU to provide the necessary support to the municipalities involved in the program.
Beyond this initial training, ICEA, in consortium with BRLi, provides support, in the form of advice and coaching, to the six local firms selected, for the preparation and implementation of subsidized concessions for a first wave of 60 AEV. This support must allow a real transfer of knowledge and know-how in which ICEA is strongly committed, so that local consultants can successfully and independently carry out further operations.
