Akinwumi Adesina CON, President of the African Development Bank
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has invested over $8 billion in water and sanitation projects across 40 African countries over the past decade, providing clean water access to more than 92 million people.
This announcement was made at the West Africa Sub-Regional Consultation Workshop on the Post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy in Abuja, where key stakeholders gathered to shape the future of Africa’s water security and sanitation sector.
Strengthening Africa’s Water Infrastructure
During the event, AfDB’s Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer, Emily Kilongi, representing Mtchera Johannes Chirwa, Director of the Water Development and Sanitation Department, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to financing critical water infrastructure. She emphasized AfDB’s active $6 billion portfolio, supporting 121 water and sanitation projects across Africa.
Kilongi also highlighted AfDB’s flagship initiatives, including:
- African Water Facility
- Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI)
- Multi-Donor Water Partnership Program (MDWPP)
These programs have now been consolidated under the African Water Facility, streamlining investments and maximizing impact.
Read also: AfDB Strengthens Energy Investments with ‘Mission 300’ to Power 300 Million Africans by 2030
Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Water Sector Reforms
Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, reiterated the country’s commitment to water security and sanitation reforms, pledging closer collaboration with AfDB, the African Union Commission (AUC), and other development partners.
Declaring the workshop open, Prof. Utsev acknowledged that while Africa had envisioned sustainable water resource management by 2025, the continent remains off track.
He cited data from the Water Sector and Sanitation Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO) showing Africa’s slow progress in meeting the Africa Water Vision 2025.
“In 2000, Africa envisioned an equitable and sustainable utilization of water resources for socio-economic development. However, progress towards this vision remains unsatisfactory,” he noted.
Represented by Richard Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Utsev highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing efforts, including:
Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) Initiative – a World Bank partnership to expand WASH services.
National WASH Policy – developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to align water governance with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Africa’s Post-2025 Water Strategy
AfDB’s Chirwa emphasized that the bank’s 2026-2030 Action Plan will integrate insights from the consultation, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 to promote a climate-resilient and water-secure Africa.
The consultation workshop, attended by government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, and civil society organizations, aims to shape the next phase of Africa’s water policy and drive greater sector investment.
Utsev praised AMCOW, AfDB, AUC, and other partners for their continuous support in advancing Africa’s water and sanitation reforms. He confirmed that recommendations from the consultation would be reviewed at the ministerial level and incorporated into Africa’s broader water security strategy.
With the 2025 deadline for the Africa Water Vision approaching, stakeholders are focused on creating a comprehensive, action-driven framework to secure Africa’s water and sanitation future.
