AWF Plans €1.6b For Water, Sanitation Projects

African Water Facility (AWF) has earmarked 1.6 billion euros to implement water and sanitation projects on the continent.

AWF Chairman and also Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, revealed that at least 3.2 million people were expected to benefit from access to improved sanitation and over 2.8 million of them would have access to improved drinking water sources.

He said the AWF was ambitious in its goal towards developing the region’s water sector to achieve water security in line with the Africa Water Vision 2025. The Africa Water Vision 2025 entails a sustainable access to a safe and adequate water supply and sanitation to meet the basic needs of all.

Adamu explained that these bankable projects are direct contributions to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. He said member states have committed 922 million euros for the implementation of follow-up projects, which were relevant to total development of the sector.

“As part of its climate change strategy, the AWF prioritises projects in water harvesting, conservation, storage, recycling and re-use, and the use of renewable energy to power water stations and infrastructures,” the minister said.

The minister expressed hope that all member states would reach a consensus on all deliberations, thereby taking the region to its next level. He called on member states to pay up their pledges for project scale-up, saying by the end of 2018, an estimated 44 million euros would be needed.

“I wish to note that pledges made by African countries in 2012 have not been paid up, with the sole exception of Burkina Faso. We want to thank the Nigerian Government who recently committed $1million, of which the disbursement is in process.”

Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, Ms. Rhoda Tumusiime called for the implementation of bankable projects what would be implemented at national levels.

Tumusiime urged member states to dialogue and agree on the direction that Africa needed to take, towards achieving sustainable development and water security.