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

The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Tuesday disclosed commitments of over $8 billion to water and sanitation projects across 40 African countries over the past decade.

This, according to the bank, aims to significantly improve access to clean water and sanitation for over 92 million people.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with the African Union Commission (AUC), AfDB, and other partners to drive sustainable water and sanitation solutions.

Speaking at the official opening of a three-day West Africa Sub-Regional Consultation Workshop on the Post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy in Abuja, AfDB’s Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer, Emily Kilongi, representing Mtchera Johannes Chirwa, Director of the Water Development and Sanitation Department, in her remarks, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to financing critical water infrastructure.

The workshop, which brought together ministers, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society organizations, aims to shape the next phase of Africa’s water policy and ensure greater investment in the sector.

AfDB’s Chirwa, in his remarks, stated that the bank currently maintains an active portfolio worth $6 billion, spread across 121 projects in Africa.

He emphasized that AfDB has been a key player in shaping Africa’s water policies, supporting initiatives such as the African Water Facility, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI), and the Multi-Donor Water Partnership Program (MDWPP).

He stressed that these programs have now been consolidated under the African Water Facility, which continues to drive investments in the sector.

“As we develop the successor to the Africa Water Vision 2025, AfDB is providing technical expertise and financial resources to ensure a robust post-2025 framework,” Chirwa stated.

He also highlighted the bank’s support for the Pan-African Water Sector Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO), a tool for tracking progress and accountability in water governance.

Chirwa underscored the alignment of AfDB’s water strategy with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, noting that the bank’s upcoming 2026-2030 Action Plan will integrate insights from this consultation.

Nigeria’s Water Minister, Utsev, while declaring open the workshop, emphasized that it was crucial for shaping a regional framework that aligns with the continent’s water and sanitation priorities beyond 2025.

“In 2000, Africa envisioned an equitable and sustainable utilization of water resources for socio-economic development.

“However, progress towards the Africa Water Vision 2025 has been unsatisfactory. The Water Sector and Sanitation Monitoring and Reporting (WASSMO) system indicates that Africa is off track in realizing this vision,” Utsev stated.

The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to water security and sanitation, listing several national initiatives such as the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH), a partnership with the World Bank to expand WASH services and strengthen sector institutions, among others.

Utsev also disclosed Nigeria’s ongoing development of a National WASH Policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders.

This policy, he said, aims to streamline water, sanitation, and hygiene service delivery, ensuring alignment with global best practices and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy must align with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063 to ensure a prosperous and climate-resilient Africa,” he stated.

Utsev expressed appreciation to AMCOW, the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, and all development partners for their commitment to advancing water and sanitation reforms across the continent.

He said consultation outcomes will be reviewed at the ministerial level and incorporated into Africa’s broader water security strategy.

He noted that with the 2025 deadline for the current Africa Water Vision fast approaching, stakeholders are keen on forging a comprehensive and action-driven framework for the continent’s future water and sanitation development.