AfDB committed over $8b to water, sanitation projects across Africa

This announcement was made by the Director of the AfDB’s Water Development and Sanitation Department, Johannes Chirwa, at the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) West Africa sub-regional meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Representing Chirwa at the event was Emily Kilongi, Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer at AfDB.

Chirwa described the meeting as a vital platform to assess progress, address challenges, and develop future strategies for water management in Africa.

“Since 2000, the AfDB has invested over $8 billion in water infrastructure across 40 African countries, benefiting over 92 million people,” Chirwa noted.

Chirwa highlighted AfDB’s ongoing policy dialogue initiatives through platforms such as African Water Week and AfricaSan.

“Looking ahead, the Bank is actively involved in developing a post-2025 Africa Water Vision, contributing expertise to ensure a comprehensive and impactful strategy,” he stated.

He reaffirmed AfDB’s dedication to strengthening water governance through initiatives like the Pan-African Water Sector Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO) and pointed to the forthcoming Africa Water Vision and Policy, alongside the bank’s 2026-2030 Action Plan, as critical tools for addressing emerging challenges.

Dr. Jihane El Gaouzi, representing the African Union Commission (AUC), commended the significant awareness raised by Africa Water Vision 2025 about water and sanitation challenges.

“Africa still faces significant challenges in achieving equitable and sustainable water management,” El Gaouzi said.

She acknowledged progress driven by initiatives such as the UN Water Conference 2023 and the Africa Water Investment Programme while emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement for ...-2025 Africa Water Vision.

“The AUC is gathering stakeholder input for ...-2025 Africa Water Vision, focusing on poverty reduction, economic growth, regional cooperation, and environmental sustainability,” she added.

El Gaouzi further outlined key upcoming events, including the Africa Water Summit scheduled for August 2025 in South Africa, and the UN Water Conference in 2026, which will be co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal. These events aim to propel Africa’s water security agenda.

El Gaouzi revealed that water and sanitation have been declared the African Union’s official theme for 2026 under Agenda 2063.

She explained, “The 5th Specialised Technical Committee and the 44th Executive Council of the AU urge the AUC to develop a climate-resilient, inclusive water security framework.”

The organization was tasked with implementing commitments made during the 11th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2008, where AU leaders pledged to accelerate water and sanitation goals.

The organization was tasked with implementing commitments made during the 11th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2008, where AU leaders pledged to accelerate water and sanitation goals.