Djibouti - Groundwater Resilience and Water Supply Project

Overview & Synopsis

Djibouti Groundwater Resilience and Water Supply Project for Djibouti has the development objective to increase the sustainable access and management of groundwater in rural areas of Djibouti. Component 1: Expanding Groundwater Infrastructure and Strengthening Rural Water System Management will develop climate-resilient rural water services through groundwater and complementary surface water investments and the professionalization of operation and maintenance (O&M). Sub-components include Sub-component 1.1: Development of water supply infrastructure, with Activity 1.1.1 delivering site identification, hydrogeological studies, environmental and social assessments, climate risk screening, and detailed designs; Activity 1.1.2 financing construction and rehabilitation of new boreholes and networks, the enhancement of existing boreholes and networks, surface water harvesting and storage systems, and a pilot solar-powered desalination of brackish groundwater at Lake Abbe, with portions of capital expenditures sequenced against adoption of a national rural O&M policy and signing of standardized O&M agreements; and Activity 1.1.3 mainstreaming sanitation, hygiene, menstrual health and hygiene management, and groundwater source protection measures at water points and selected social facilities. Sub-component 1.2: Promote sustainable and participatory O&M of groundwater infrastructure will establish robust and accountable service delivery, with Activity 1.2.1 strengthening community institutions and engagement across the investment cycle, including measures to increase women’s participation and leadership, and Activity 1.2.2 facilitating professionalized O&M models, market sounding and operator procurement, performance-based agreements, results-linked tariff structures, paid apprenticeships and jobs for local youth and women, and technical assistance to develop the National Water Fund for blended O&M support. Component 2: Strengthening institutional capacities and information systems for sustainable water resources planning, development and management will build national systems and governance for groundwater. Sub-component 2.1: Enhancing institutional capacity for groundwater management includes Activity 2.1.1 building organizational and technical capacities of the Rural Water Resources Directorate (DHR), Activity 2.1.2 equipping DHR and constructing and outfitting two regional offices and, as feasible, field water quality laboratories to strengthen O&M backstopping and drought preparedness, Activity 2.1.3 developing updated groundwater policies, regulations and locally anchored governance approaches, and Activity 2.1.4 formulating a comprehensive national Water Master Plan (2026–2040) under a re-established National Water Committee. Sub-component 2.2: Strengthening the knowledge base and data systems on Djibouti’s water resources includes Activity 2.2.1 establishing an integrated Groundwater and WASH Services Information Management System, with interoperability to a regional Groundwater Information Management System (GWIS); Activity 2.2.2 conducting feasibility studies for priority national aquifers and the transboundary Afar aquifer, and developing a nonbinding aquifer protocol for cooperation; Activity 2.2.3 assessing national potential for surface runoff harvesting and storage; and Activity 2.2.4 preparing a full feasibility study for a flood protection and groundwater recharge dam at Bouley. Sub-component 2.3: Regional technical cooperation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will provide targeted capacity building, support policy and regulatory reforms, integrate Djibouti’s data system with the regional platform, and advance cross-border planning for the Afar aquifer. Component 3: Project Management, Monitoring and Learning, Knowledge Management will support Project Implementation Units, procurement and financial management, environmental and social risk management and inclusive engagement, digital monitoring and evaluation, audits, logistics, and knowledge sharing. Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response Component will enable a rapid and flexible reallocation of proceeds to finance eligible emergency response expenditures in the event of a crisis or disaster.