Leveraging Water and Sanitation Investment in Africa: The Driving Role of the African Water Facility

Strategic Insights -

On the sidelines of the 2025 Annual Meetings, the African Development Bank Group and the African Water Facility will host a discussion on investments in water and sanitation in Africa. This side event aims to showcase the essential role of the African Water Facility in supporting African Development Bank regional member countries in achieving their water and sanitation goals. The discussion will center on the African Water Facility's vision of equitable water resource management to alleviate poverty, drive socioeconomic development, and foster regional cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The African Water Facility is a project preparation fund that mobilizes financing for infrastructure development in water and sanitation across Africa, providing grants, technical assistance, and investment support to governments and partnerships to implement sustainable water projects.
  • The Facility has provided multiple grants totaling £220 million covering 148 projects, mobilizing £2.1 billion in downstream investment, and has provided access to sanitation for 11.3 million people, improved access to water supply for 23.2 million people, and equipped 2 million hectares with irrigation since 2006.
  • The African Water Facility's current project pipeline is valued at £90 million, which will benefit 15 African countries.
  • The Facility's new 2026-2030 Strategy aims to support African Development Bank regional member countries in achieving their water and sanitation goals, while exploring new partnership opportunities.
  • The Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative is an innovative partnership model that will be showcased during the event, along with the Facility's financing window for sanitation projects.
  • A panel discussion will address critical aspects of achieving universal water and sanitation access, including preparing bankable projects, evolving funding mechanisms for water infrastructure, private sector engagement, and policy framework by the African Union.

Statistics:

  • £220 million: Total grants provided by the African Water Facility since 2006.
  • £2.1 billion: Mobilized downstream investment in water and sanitation projects through the African Water Facility.
  • 148 projects: Number of projects supported by the African Water Facility since 2006.
  • 11.3 million: People with access to sanitation provided by the African Water Facility's projects.
  • 23.2 million: People with improved access to water supply provided by the African Water Facility's projects.
  • 2 million hectares: Area equipped with irrigation through the African Water Facility's projects.
  • £90 million: Value of the African Water Facility's current project pipeline.

Sources:

  • African Development Bank Group.