1st Call for Proposals - Urban Project Cycle (UPC)

Water Services Trust Fund, Kenya
Financial Support for improved access to water and sanitation

1st Call for Proposals - Urban Project Cycle (UPC)

Water Services Trust Fund (WSTF), a corporate body under the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, and established under the Water Act, 2002 has developed a funding mechanism called the Urban Project Cycle (UPC) that promotes the Water Sector Reforms spirit of improving service provision through commercialization of water and sanitation services.

In this respect, the Water Services Providers (WSPs), who play a key role in the water and sanitation services provision in major urban areas, are expected to expand their coverage and invest in the low income urban areas under their jurisdiction.

The UPC mechanism is financed by the Government of Kenya, German Financial Cooperation (KfW) and European Commission (EU Water Facility)

Water Services Trust Fund intends to apply part of these funds to finance water and sanitation projects in informal settlements within major urban areas in Lake Victoria North Water Services Board area of jurisdiction.

In this 1st Call for Proposal, Water Services Trust Fund invites proposals from eligible Water Services Providers operating in Lake Victoria North Water Services Board jurisdiction to apply for funding for improvement of water service delivery in the informal settlements in their areas of operation.

A 2nd Call for Proposals shall be eligible to all Water Services Providers in the Country and is expected to be launched in July 2009.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for this funding, the Water Service Provider must meet the following minimum requirements:

a) Be duly registered under the Company Act and have a valid Service Provision Agreement with Lake Victoria North Water Services Board

b) Be registered by the Water Service Regulatory Board under Category I of the Water Services Providers

Purpose of the Funding

The funding is intended to achieve the following key objectives:

a) Improvement and or development of water supply infrastructure in the informal settlements

b) Contribute to regulation and commercialization of service provision in the informal settlements

c) Project the WSP image in low income urban areas

Application Procedures

a) Identification of project areas in line with Water Services Trust Fund Guidelines

b) Development of project proposal through filling in the standard application form and attaching all the necessary supporting documents

c) Each eligible WSP is encouraged to submit a maximum of three project proposals in this call

d) The application forms and other details can be obtained from Water Services Trust Fund Office or on email on request, or downloaded from the website 'www.wstfkenya.org'

e) The proposed project must be endorsed/approved by Lake Victoria North Water Services before submission to Water Services Trust Fund

f) The proposal shall be submitted in three hard copies and one soft copy to the address below and the envelope clearly marked "1st Call for Proposal-UPC:"

Water Services Trust Fund, Kenya
CIC plaza 1st floor, Mara road, Upper Hill
P.O. Box49699-00100
Nairobi.
Tel. 2720696/2720517
Email: info @ wstfkenya.org

NB
The Water Services Providers are expected to work closely with Lake Victoria North Water Services Board during this step of proposal development.

Submission Date
Only those proposals that shall have been received by the Water Services Trust Fund on or before 17th April 2009 shall be considered.