The aim of the project was to implement the national programme for water and sanitation services for the period from 2012 to 2015. The programme was part of the Burkinabe poverty alleviation strategy. An accompanying measure was designed to strengthen quality assurance in the area of urban water and sanitation services and to promote training for specialists in the operation of supply systems in small and medium-sized towns.This support was set up in the form of a direct financial contribution to the Burkinabe budget and was added to the budget line for the municipal water supply; it therefore focused on this area. Denmark, the European Commission and Sweden also participated in the joint financing.