Functions Of The Water Sector Trust Fund

Water Sector Trust Fund (WaterFund) is the Kenyan State Corporation under the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation mandated to assist in financing water, sanitation and water resources management projects in the underserved and marginalised rural and urban areas. Functions Of The Water Sector Trust Fund. In the Water Act, 2016, the mandate of the WaterFund is to provide conditional and unconditional grants to Counties and to assist in financing the development of and management of water services in the marginalised and underserved areas including:

1. Community level initiatives for the sustainable management of water resources
2. Development of water services in rural areas considered not to be commercially viable for provision of water services by licensees
3. Development of water services in the under-served poor urban areas
4. Research activities in the area of water resource management and water services, sewerage and sanitation

WaterFund was first established under the Water Act, 2002, as the Water Services Trust Fund with the mandate to provide financing assistance towards water and sanitation projects to underserved and low-income rural and urban areas.

2. WATERFUND INVESTMENTS

The WaterFund has developed five main mechanisms of financing and executing its operations as follows:

1. Rural Investment; support towards implementation of water supply and sanitation projects in underserved rural communities. The programme is implemented through water utilities serving rural areas
2. Urban Investment; support towards water supply and sanitation projects for low income urban areas. This programme is implemented through the Water Services Providers (WSPs)
3. Water Resources Climate Change Investment; gives support to communities to effectively conserve their catchments, manage and protect the water resources within their sub-catchments. The programme is implemented through Water Resources Users Associations (WRUAs); Community Forest Associations (CFAs) and Conservancies. Technical support to the beneficiary communities is given by partner institutions eg Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Water Resources Authority (WRA) and Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT)
4. Results-Based Financing: support towards water and sanitation projects in urban low-income areas, financed through loans from Kenyan commercial banks, which are then subsidised by WaterFund on achievement of agreed targets. The programme is financed through Water Services Providers (WSPs)
5. Research and Innovation Financing: support towards financing of research and innovation initiatives within the sector. The outputs of these initiatives are geared towards generation of new knowledge in the sector, provision of innovative, practical and cost-effective solutions in the realization of sustainable provision of water, sanitation and sewerage services in addition to water resources management as well as addressing gaps through collaborations and adaption of innovative models for better service delivery

Functions Of The Water Sector Trust Fund

1. Its principal function is to provide conditional and unconditional grants to counties to assist in financing the development and management of water services in marginalized areas.

2. It finances community-level initiatives for the sustainable management of water resources

3. It finances the development of water services in rural areas considered not to be commercially viable for the provision of water services by licensees.

4. The Fund aids in developing water services in underserved poor urban areas.

5. It funds research activities in water resources management, water services, sewerage and sanitation.

The Water Sector Trust Fund (Water Fund) Contacts

PO Box 49699 – 00100,
Nairobi, Kenya
info@waterfund.go.ke

Head Office: 1st Floor, CIC Plaza, Mara Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi

Tel: 020 272 90 17 / 8
Whistle-blowing hotlines:
0780 564 110 /
0707 621 526

1st Floor, CIC Plaza,
Mara Road, Upper Hill,
Nairobi, Kenya