European Commission has issued the following press release:

The European Commission has announced that it will support Malawi in its efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) related to water and sanitation. The new programme will be focussed on the most vulnerable population in 15 districts and 7 cities, who have limited access to water and sanitation.

It will help to build 500 new water points, water and sanitation facilities in 50 health centres, promote hygiene in schools and train local committees to manage the water infrastructure themselves.

The programme, which will receive a total amount of €30 million, is co-financed with UNICEF (European Development Fund contribution: €24 million, UNICEF contribution: €6 million).

Malawi has already made an impressive effort to achieve the MDG on access to water and sanitation; showing an overall increase in access to safe water, from 41% in 1990 to 83% in 2010, and from 39% in 1990 to 70% in 2010 in basic sanitation.

For more information please visit http://europa.eu