The Kigali Bulk Water Supply Project is a landmark urban water infrastructure development strengthening long-term water security for Rwanda’s capital. Delivered under a 27-year public–private partnership (PPP) concession, the project significantly expanded Kigali’s potable water production capacity and improved supply reliability for households, businesses, and industry.

Commissioned in 2017, the facility has a design capacity of 40,000 m³/day, increasing Kigali’s water supply by approximately 25% and improving service access for over half million residents. The project abstracts raw water indirectly from the Nyabarongo River, treats it to potable standards, and delivers bulk water into the national distribution network, strengthening system resilience in a rapidly growing city. And it was a part of the Rwanda national vision of 2020.

The project asset is forms part of Africa Water Infrastructure Development (AWID) — co-established investment platform by Metito Utilities and British International Investment (BII) in 2023, is first-of-its-kind investment platform demonstrates a scalable commercial and impactful model for water and wastewater projects in Africa. The platform mobilises private capital and delivers clean, reliable water and sanitation services to communities most vulnerable to climate change. Through AWID, the Kigali project demonstrates how structured private participation, supported by development finance institutions, can deliver bankable, sustainable water infrastructure in emerging markets.

As the first and only water PPPs project in Sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa the project set a benchmark for private investment in the region’s water sector. Beyond expanding supply, it advances public health outcomes, urban resilience, and Rwanda’s national development objectives.