Ferrovial to develop water infrastructure in Peru and Tanzania with Plan España and ONGAWA

Ferrovial has launched its "Social Infrastructure" programme as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility Plan, selecting two development aid projects presented by Plan España and ONGAWA, Engineering for Human Development. The two NGOs will develop water supply and sewage systems in Peru and Tanzania, respectively. Ferrovial has chosen the NGOs Plan España and ONGAWA, Engineering for Human Development (formerly Engineering Without Borders Association for Development) to develop social infrastructure projects, namely, water supply and sewage networks in Peru and Tanzania, respectively. This initiative is part of the "Social Infrastructure" programme included in Ferrovial's Corporate Responsibility 20.13 Plan. The programme is organised an open tender for third sector organisations with projects in Latin America and Africa. Ferrovial will provide technical expertise through its volunteers on the ground as well as 200,000 euro in funding for each project. Twenty-six projects applied for this first tender, 16 of them in Latin America and 13 in Africa. There are communities where access to drinking water is vital for reducing mortality due to illnesses associated with poor health conditions in children and adults. Access to water is key in the fight against poverty and the improvement in living conditions. In 2011, Ferrovial will conclude its project with African NGO AMREF to build sanitary and water supply infrastructure in five municipalities in the Serengeti district, which has benefited over 50,000 people. This project was distinguished with the European Commission's International Cooperation Award for Sustainable Development and was recognised by other organisations, such as Fundación Entorno and the NGO Codespa. Drinking water in Peru Ferrovial will work with Plan España to develop a drinking water and sewage system in four communities of the Olmedo Canton, in Cajamarca, one of the poorest regions of Peru. This project, which has an execution period of 24 months, will ensure direct access to basic drinking water and sewage systems for 2,225 people and indirect access for 26,000. Plan España, a 74-year-old international organisation which defends children's rights, is one of the largest and oldest development aid NGOs in the world. It has offices in 68 countries and programmes in 50 countries in Africa, Asia and America. The organisation's 8,000 employees and 60,000 volunteers develop 6,932 projects which directly benefit 56 million people. Sewage infrastructure in Tanzania In Tanzania, where Ferrovial has experience with this type of project, the company is working with ONGAWA, Engineering for Human Development, to establish sustainable water supply systems in Kata de Maore, in Same District, in the north. This project, with an execution period of 12 months, will benefit 13,600 inhabitants directly and 48,800 indirectly. The goal is to reduce mortality due to infectious or water-related diseases, which account for 5 of the 10 most common illnesses in the area. ONGAWA, Engineering for Human Development has water- and technology-related development aid projects under way in Nicaragua, Peru, Tanzania and Mozambique. The organisation aims to achieve universal access to basic services, with a focus on human rights. The communities involved will participate in both projects with a view to improving their hygiene and health conditions and strengthening the skills of local government workers to ensure the sustainability of the water and sewage services.