AfDB committed over $8b to water, sanitation projects across Africa
The African Growth Financial institution (AfDB) has invested greater than $8 billion in water infrastructure tasks throughout 40 African nations since 2000, impacting the lives of over 92 million people.
This announcement was made by the Director of the AfDB’s Water Growth and Sanitation Division, Johannes Chirwa, on the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) West Africa sub-regional assembly held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Representing Chirwa on the occasion was Emily Kilongi, Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer at AfDB.
Chirwa described the assembly as an important platform to evaluate progress, handle challenges, and develop future methods for water administration in Africa.
“Since 2000, the AfDB has invested over $8 billion in water infrastructure throughout 40 African international locations, benefiting over 92 million individuals,” Chirwa famous.
Coverage Dialogues and Future Imaginative and prescient
Chirwa highlighted AfDB’s ongoing coverage dialogue initiatives by way of platforms equivalent to African Water Week and AfricaSan.
“Trying forward, the Financial institution is actively concerned in creating a post-2025 Africa Water Imaginative and prescient, contributing experience to make sure a complete and impactful technique,” he said.
He reaffirmed AfDB’s dedication to strengthening water governance by way of initiatives just like the Pan-African Water Sector Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO) and pointed to the forthcoming Africa Water Imaginative and prescient and Coverage, alongside the financial institution’s 2026-2030 Motion Plan, as crucial instruments for addressing rising challenges.
Insights from the African Union Fee
Dr. Jihane El Gaouzi, representing the African Union Fee (AUC), counseled the numerous consciousness raised by Africa Water Imaginative and prescient 2025 about water and sanitation challenges.
“Africa nonetheless faces vital challenges in reaching equitable and sustainable water administration,” El Gaouzi mentioned.
She acknowledged progress pushed by initiatives such because the UN Water Convention 2023 and the Africa Water Funding Programme whereas emphasizing the significance of stakeholder engagement for the post-2025 Africa Water Imaginative and prescient.
“The AUC is gathering stakeholder enter for the post-2025 Africa Water Imaginative and prescient, specializing in poverty discount, financial development, regional cooperation, and environmental sustainability,” she added.
El Gaouzi additional outlined key upcoming occasions, together with the Africa Water Summit scheduled for August 2025 in South Africa, and the UN Water Convention in 2026, which will likely be co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal. These occasions goal to propel Africa’s water safety agenda.
El Gaouzi revealed that water and sanitation have been declared the African Union’s official theme for 2026 beneath Agenda 2063.
She defined, “The fifth Specialised Technical Committee and the forty fourth Government Council of the AU urge the AUC to develop a climate-resilient, inclusive water safety framework.”
What you must know
- She reiterated the need of a continental governance framework for sustainable and equitable water entry, describing entry to water as a elementary proper.
- El Gaouzi emphasised the necessity for stronger collaboration amongst governments, personal sector stakeholders, and regional organizations whereas reaffirming AUC’s dedication to the post-2025 water imaginative and prescient by way of strategic planning and policy-driven funding.
- Based in 2002, AMCOW continues to advertise cooperation, safety, financial improvement, and poverty eradication by way of efficient water useful resource administration and provide providers.
The group was tasked with implementing commitments made in the course of the eleventh Atypical Session of the African Union (AU) Meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2008, the place AU leaders pledged to speed up water and sanitation objectives.
