Côte d'Ivoire

At its independence in 1960, Côte d'Ivoire experienced a strong economic boom, mainly focused on the production of coffee and cocoa. From 1990 onwards, the country experienced a serious political and military crisis lasting two decades, which greatly slowed down its economic and social development. During this same period, Côte d'Ivoire experienced strong population growth, from 12 million inhabitants in 1990 to 23 million in 2016. At the end of the crisis, in 2010, Côte d'Ivoire began a slow process of national reconciliation, economic recovery and the fight against poverty.
Since 2011, the country has experienced some political stability, confirmed by the smooth re-election of President Alassane Ouattara in 2015. Côte d'Ivoire is now returning to dynamic economic growth (average annual GDP growth rate of 8.5% between 2012 and 2015). This economic upturn, however, does not translate into a reduction in poverty, the rate of which remained at 46% in 2015 (despite the Ivorian president's goal of halving it). Côte d'Ivoire's human development index of 0.45 ranks the country 172nd out of 188.. The fight against poverty remains a real challenge. Finally, it is important to point out that 54% of the population of Ivory Coast lives in urban areas today, when the Global Risks Annual Report 2015 states that "40% of urban growth is in slums".

---

DJI NI SII (DNS) ("water and long life"), is the Ivorian social enterprise, created by Eau et Vie in 2016, to ensure the distribution of running water in slums, in partnership with the local water concessionaire. The social enterprise has the particularity of collecting water bill payments every fortnight via a door-to-door proximity service. The connections (counters) are offered at a social rate in the payment is staggered in time. The purpose of the company is to support the beneficiaries / customers so that in the long run they can switch back to the national operator system.

EAU ET VIE COTE D’IVOIRE (EVCI), an Ivorian association created in 2014, is in charge of developing training courses on hygiene and the environment, fire prevention and community strengthening and ensuring the implementation of waste collection services and improved sanitation. W & L conducts the surveys and measures the impact of the actions on the living conditions of the inhabitants. The NGO also carries out advocacy actions with local authorities, which are essential for the proper functioning of projects.

---

Project History

In 2013 and 2014, Eau et Vie conducted a feasibility study to start its activities in Côte d'Ivoire. The needs on the ground and the reception by the local authorities and communities led to the sending of a first expatriate in 2015. The local association, Eau et Vie Côte d’Ivoire, and the social enterprise, Dji Ni Sii, were created. Due to the numerous construction and urbanization projects launched by the government and its partners, numerous surveys are taking place between April 2015 and March 2016 to definitively decide the choice of intervention areas, including Djidan 1 for the pilot project. In the process, Eau et Vie Côte d'Ivoire has signed a Framework Agreement with the National Office of Drinking Water and Eau et Vie Côte d'Ivoire for the launch of the pilot project.

Ongoing Projects

Abidjan: Gbamnan Djidan 1

Following Projects

Initially, DNS will start the construction of the water network, with the aim of deploying its water sales activity on the district. She will be responsible for collecting payments and maintaining the network. She will regularly perform quality tests of the distributed water. In terms of sanitation and waste, Eau et Vie Côte d'Ivoire will continue to study the needs and solutions envisaged, particularly with the help of players such as Artelia experts. Community empowerment and hygiene awareness activities will need to continue to grow, including through partnerships with schools.