MCC Expanding Access to Water and Sanitation in Cabo Verde

Thanks to an MCC-funded project in Cabo Verde that provided low-cost household connections to water and sanitation networks, Celestina now has clean water coming directly to her home, and now spends less time collecting water. As women and other vulnerable groups gain a greater voice in decision-making and greater access to water and sanitation services, they will be better positioned to pursue education and employment opportunities that help them lift themselves out of poverty. Photo: MCA-Cabo Verde II

June 16, 2017

Story: MCC website


Spotlight on Cabo Verde: Expanding Access to Water and Sanitation is Critical to Economic Growth

Women, the poor and other vulnerable groups are particularly impacted by the shortcomings of the water and sanitation sector in developing countries like Cabo Verde. Yet, women and the poor are seldom represented in national policy conversations and decision-making. At the local level, utilities rarely design services that address the challenges that these groups face in accessing and paying for water and sanitation. But in Cabo Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, this is changing.

In partnership with the Government of Cabo Verde, MCC is supporting reforms to the country’s major water and sanitation institutions and the development of a financially sound basis for the delivery of water and sanitation services — from clean tap water to safe wastewater removal. By considering women, the poor and other disadvantaged populations in making these reforms, along with improving accountability, the Government of Cabo Verde is expanding access to and affordability of these vital services to help people lift themselves out of poverty.

Read more about MCC’s partnership with the Government of Cabo Verde in our blog post from Naomi Cassirer, MCC Gender and Social Inclusion Director, and Lona Stoll, MCC Deputy Vice President for Sector Operations.