500,000+ people gain access to drinking water thanks to the Bêkou Fund programme in the Central African Republic

BANGUI, 7 November 2025 – UNICEF and the European Union, through the Bêkou Fund, today officially handed over a modern drilling rig to the National Agency for Water and Sanitation in Rural Areas (ANEA) in the Central African Republic.

This equipment is part of the "ANEA Capacity Building Project for Sustainable Access to Water and Sanitation in Rural Areas," which aims to significantly improve access to safe drinking water and promote hygiene and sanitation practices for the benefit of local communities.

The programme began in 2018 and has provided more than 525,000 people with access to safe drinking water and 150,000 people with improved sanitation facilities. In total, 867 water points were rehabilitated/repaired and 174 new boreholes were drilled. Nearly 23,000 households were able to build their own latrines as part of this project.

According to Mr. Jean-Marc Dewerpe, Head of Cooperation and Trust Fund Manager of the Bêkou Fund at the European Union Delegation in the Central African Republic: “This partnership between the European Union and the Central African Government is much more than cooperation: it is an alliance serving the people. The drilling rig handed over today is tangible proof of this—a tool that will provide thousands of Central Africans with sustainable access to drinking water, improve their health, and strengthen their resilience to the challenges of tomorrow. Through the Bêkou Fund, the European Union is committed to working alongside the people of the Central African Republic to transform every drop of water into a promise of a future and lasting peace.”

Currently, only 37 per cent of the Central African population has access to safe drinking water. This project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNICEF, aims to strengthen the operational capacities of the National Agency for Water and Sanitation (ANEA) for the effective and sustainable management of groundwater resources through the construction of climate-resilient hydraulic infrastructure capable of delivering sufficient volumes of drinking water to meet the needs of the population.

The donation of a high-capacity drilling rig to ANEA will allow the government to continue the project for many years to come.

For his part, Felix Ackebo, UNICEF Representative to the Central African Republic, emphasized the importance of this logistical support: “This drilling rig is not just a piece of technical equipment. It is a beacon of hope for rural communities, a tool for dignity, health, and lasting peace for every child and every family.”

Mr. Rufin Benam, Acting Minister of Energy and Water Resources Development said: “Thanks to this project, ANEA will be able to operate throughout the entire Central African Republic, which will benefit the Central African population with a reliable water supply.”

In addition to this donation, twelve ANEA drilling technicians were trained on the use and maintenance of the new drilling rig by experts from Italy to ensure the equipment’s long-term viability.

The official handover ceremony of the drilling rig took place in the presence of national authorities, technical and financial partners, and representatives of the beneficiary communities.

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About the European Union and the Bêkou Fund

The European Union, through the Bêkou Fund, finances projects aimed at supporting stabilization and development in the Central African Republic. Since its creation in 2014, the Bêkou Fund has made it possible to mobilize resources to improve access to basic services, particularly in the areas of health, education, and water and sanitation.