The Renato Grandi Foundation participated with 250,000 euros, in the financing of a large aqueduct realized by the ACRA association (Association for Rural Cooperation in Africa and Latin America) of Milan, in the Njombe region of Tanzania, between 2006 and 2011. The first phase was co-financed by the European Union, while the second by the Italian MAE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

During the construction of the aqueduct, the population created a cooperative that has been managing the aqueduct autonomously since 2011.

The system’s pipelines operate by gravity. Drinking water is collected from 4 different sources in a small transit reservoir located at an altitude of 2,250 masl, near the village of Tove.
Through a 94 km main pipeline, water is transported down the valley, supplying the reservoirs of 15 villages, the last of which is located at 1,550 m above sea level in the village of Ilunda. From the reservoirs in each village, always by gravity, the water is distributed through a secondary network of 250 km to 415 distribution points located near the users’ homes. It is estimated that the aqueduct supplies about 1.5 million liters of drinking water daily.

The beneficiaries of the project in 2011 were approximately 45,000 people. The aqueduct is functioning regularly and the population of the 15 villages is currently estimated to have increased by 15%.

The positive impact of the project is manifold, but two main aspects can be highlighted that have benefited women and children in the 15 villages.

Prior to the construction of the aqueduct, an estimated 9,000 housewives had to spend at least one and a half hours each day collecting non-potable water for their families.

Childhood diseases caused by the use of unsafe water and lack of hygiene have decreased significantly. Girls’ school attendance has increased.