Antwerp Port pitches in on "World Toilet Day"

Today, 19 November, is World Toilet Day when attention worldwide focuses on the 2.6 billion people who do not have access to sanitary facilities, and on the 768 million who do not have access to drinkable water. Antwerp Port Authority is eager to contribute towards solving this global problem, and so in collaboration with various Flemish partners it is committed to a project in the African country of Benin.

As part of the Millennium Development Goals to provide greater access to drinkable water and sanitation by 2015, Flanders is participating in a number of projects, including one in the region of South Benin. Together with Protos and the Association of Flemish Cities & Municipalities (VVSG), Antwerp Port Authority seeks to achieve better management and maintenance of water resources and drinking water points in South Benin. The project enjoys support from the Flemish government, through the Flemish Water for Development Partnership (VPWvO). The Port Authority has opted specifically for Benin because of the trade in second-hand cars that are exported from Antwerp to the port of Cotonou.

Benin has an average rainfall of between 700 and 1,300 mm per year, spread over 70 to 110 days, and is plagued by an irregular water cycle that swings between floods and occasional droughts. According to the Human Development Index (UNDP, 2011), Benin comes in 167th place out of 187 countries, with an index of 0.427 pointing to a very low state of development. In the Couffo department, 39% of people do not have access to clean drinking water, and in Mono the figure is 19%. When it comes to sanitary facilities the situation is even worse: in both areas only 12% are able to use a toilet or latrine.

The project, which runs from 2013 to 2015, concentrates on the departments of Mono and Couffo, more specifically the communities of Lokossa, Athiémé, Dogbo, Bopa, Toviklin and Lalo. Improvements are being made to the municipal water supply using innovative methods for integrated water management. Specifically, 5,500 people will gain greater access to drinking water, the management and maintenance of existing drinking water points will be improved, and 40,300 people will gain access to sanitation.

The collaboration project is being carried out in two phases. In 2013 the focus was on the three communities of Athiémé, Dogbo and Lokossa, where training already began in 2011. Management and maintenance of water infrastructure was further tackled, four drill holes with foot pumps were sunk and eight school latrines installed, and an awareness-raising campaign focusing on safe sanitary practices was held. The same initiatives were extended to Toviklin, Lalo and Bopa in 2014. In these communities the drinking water system was extended by 15 km and six school latrines were installed. In addition measures were taken to study the frequent flooding in the six communities that lie on the lower course of the Mono and to analyse the risks. This has enabled a long-term plan to be drawn up with these communities to limit the risks.

The success of the project will lead to a better municipal and inter-municipal policy. The capacities of the six municipalities will be further augmented in order to provide high-quality services for drinking water, hygiene and sanitation. In addition the municipalities will exchange knowledge and experience, so that it can be shared at national level.

The contribution by the Antwerp Port Authority consists mainly of knowledge transfer. A Port Authority representative is being sent on a first mission for this and will attend a seminar on inter-municipal collaboration on 27 and 28 November 2014 where one of the subjects will be a joint approach to managing flood risks. VVSG has also provided input for the content of the seminar.

The Port Authority is also contributing its expertise in environmental impact statements, ecosystems and stakeholder consultation, and is providing technical support from its GIS unit. A port specialist in Integrated Water Management is being sent from Antwerp, and in 2016 Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center (APEC) will organise a course in Belgium on the subject of integrated water management and flood risk control for half a dozen people from Benin. In addition to support and training, the Port Authority is making a financial contribution of € 25,000 per year.