The African Water Facility (AWF) of the African Development Bank welcomed representatives from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nordic Development Fund to its headquarters in Abidjan on 21 February 2024 to review the progress of shared priorities and strategic planning for the 2026-2030 period.
Launched in 2021 with support from the Danish government and the Nordic Development Fund, the €34 million Improving access to climate resilient safe water supply and sanitation services in the Sahel and Horn of Africa (2021-2025) initiative covers Mali, Niger, Ethiopia, Somalia and Burkina Faso. It is supporting the provision of green investments in rural and urban water and sanitation and water resource management in the target countries, all of which are being impacted by climate change. The initiative is also expected to aid their post COVID-19 recovery.
"This joint program is a response to the dire situation in the Sahel and Horn of Africa where millions in rural and urban communities are affected by climate change with lack of access to basic water and sanitation services. Our goal is to improve this situation through sustainable immediate and long-term solutions," said Winnie Petersen, Chief Adviser, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Longer term, the program is expected to drive the preparation of investment projects for water and sanitation infrastructure by building capacity for water resources management and sensitizing communities on safe and hygienic practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
To date, six of the initiative's eight planned projects have been approved. The Bank's Board of Directors is expected to approve additional projects in Somalia and Ethiopia in the second quarter of 2024. These projects are expected to benefit an estimated 530,000 people, according to estimates from the African Water Facility.
"We were pleased to host representatives from Denmark and the Nordic Development Fund at our headquarters in Abidjan," said Mtchera Chirwa, Coordinator of the African Water Facility. "We value our partnership in supporting our flagship program in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, where access to water and sanitation services could make a difference between life or death."
Ole Stubdrup, Program Manager for Nordic Development Fund, said, "Our continued partnership with the African Water Facility supports the provision of improved access to climate resilient water and sanitation services for the most vulnerable in Africa. The Facility is a cutting-edge agent for change and impact in the continent's rapidly evolving water and sanitation sector and we are glad to be a close partner in this endeavour and towards the development of its upcoming strategy."
During the visit, the donor representatives and Bank staff also held talks to advance the African Water Facility's five-year strategy for the 2026-2030 period. Consultations with donors and partners on the new strategy will continue through 2024 and early 2025. The strategy will solidify the Facility's position as an agent for change in developing responses to the continent's water and sanitation challenges.
Hosted at the African Development Bank, the African Water Facility became operational in 2006. It has a grant portfolio of 138 projects in 52 African countries.
