Brazil - Paraiba Water Security Project (Northeast MPA Phase I)

Overview & Synopsis

Paraiba Water Security Project (Northeast MPA Phase I), for Brazil, has the development objectives to strengthen the foundations for water security in the State and increase access to resilient water services. Component 1: Foundations for Water Security strengthens proactive, climate-resilient water resources management by expanding and modernizing surface and groundwater monitoring networks, integrating real-time data into state information systems, improving early warning and response for droughts and floods, and consolidating core management instruments, including water rights and discharge permits, classification of water bodies with participatory standard-setting, and economic and legal frameworks such as cost structures, financing mechanisms, updated tariffs, and a state policy for water reuse. Component 2: Resilient Water Services modernizes and expands water supply and sanitation services to enhance reliability, efficiency, and environmental outcomes in the Joao Pessoa Metropolitan Region and to establish sustainable models for rural service delivery; Sub-component 2.1 expands the urban water supply system through a new transmission main linked to existing reservoirs and integrates dam safety assessments and plans; Sub-component 2.2 reduces non-revenue water through design and implementation of performance based contracts (PBCs), sectorization, and network optimization to cut physical losses and improve energy efficiency; Sub-component 2.3 expands and modernizes the wastewater treatment plant in Baixo Paraiba under a design and build contract to increase treatment capacity and reduce pollution loads discharged to water bodies; Sub-component 2.4 strengthens the state regulatory agency’s capacity to oversee public private partnership (PPP) contracts and align regulatory instruments with National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency reference standards, including targets, indicators, and pricing methodologies; Sub-component 2.5 develops a state policy and sustainable management models for rural water supply and sanitation, establishing institutional arrangements for operations and maintenance and drawing on proven approaches adapted to Paraiba’s context. Component 3: Partnership for Water Security and Project Management supports cross-state knowledge sharing and learning under the Northeast Consortium platform on topics such as integrated water resources management, digital information systems, rural service models, and non-revenue water control, promotes women’s participation in sector jobs through training and targeted measures, and finances project management functions including technical coordination, procurement, financial management, monitoring and evaluation, environmental and social management, and communications.