The assistance supports the second phase of the National Programme for Clean Water and Rural Environmental Hygiene (2005-2010). This programme is being sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Ministry of Development Cooperation, with a commitment worth US$125 million.      

The programme has helped 79 percent of the rural population get access to clean water and 51 percent of households in the countryside to acquire hygienic toilets. To date, 75 percent of schools, 77 percent of medical stations, 67 percent of communal People’s Committee offices and 45 percent of public markets have used this programme.