The agency’s information emphasizes that the consultative session was attended by representatives of central public authorities, the National Energy Regulatory Agency, associations of employers in the utilities sector and operators of the sector.
The Program under discussion offers a comprehensive approach to improving access of the population to safe and quality services, reducing disparities between localities and strengthening the institutional capacity of authorities and sector operators.
The document is structured around 3 general objectives, 8 specific objectives and 38 measures. They are aimed at: (i) improving governance, (ii) increasing the capacity of actors involved in the provision of public services, and (iii) improving the ability to attract external funds and implement infrastructure projects.
The measures included in the Program complement the new document under development, providing a more effective intervention in the process of water supply and sanitation infrastructure development, and correlate with the specialized section “Water Supply and Sanitation” of the National Territorial Development Plan, which will integrate investment projects, territorial priorities and financing mechanisms, ensuring coordinated infrastructure development at the national and regional levels.
Overcoming structural problems
The Ministry emphasizes that the need to approve the Program is due to the persistence of serious structural problems in the sector.
According to the analysis, in 2024, only 67.6% of houses were connected to centralized water supply systems and only 33.4% had access to centralized sewerage networks. At the same time, 37% of settlements completely lack centralized water supply systems, and about 90% of settlements lack functioning sewerage networks or treatment facilities.
The document also identifies significant disparities between urban and rural areas, between regions, as well as problems related to water quality, operator efficiency, institutional fragmentation and financial sustainability of services.
To finalize the document, proposals and recommendations can be submitted until April 24, 2026.
