The African Water Facility (AWF) – as an initiative of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW), hosted and managed by the African Development Bank – has officially launched its groundbreaking Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII) at the 2024 World Water Week in Stockholm. Hon. Carl-Hermann Gustav Schlettwein, Minister for Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Namibia, Chair of the African Water Facility Governing Council, graced the launch event. Key stakeholders from across the water and sanitation sectors and development partners across the globe attended the event.

In his address, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, Executive Secretary of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), highlighted the critical need for innovative solutions to tackle the severe sanitation challenges faced by the urban populations across Africa. “Over 50% of our rapidly growing urban population lacks adequate sanitation services,” he noted. “This translates into an estimated annual economic cost of $40 to $50 billion due to sanitation failures.”

The AUSII aims to reverse this trend by promoting a paradigm shift from conventional infrastructure investments to an inclusive, climate-resilient approach tailored to the diverse needs of Africa’s cities. Over the next decade, the initiative is set to directly improve sanitation access for 15 million urban inhabitants through 50 carefully prepared projects. Furthermore, it aims to mobilize $7 billion in commercial and concessional finance to bolster public and private sector sanitation projects.

Dr Mbaziira emphasised that the initiative is crucial to achieving the Africa Water Vision 2025 targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set. “Sanitation is a fundamental human right critical to public health, environmental sustainability, and overall well-being,” he said. He underscored the importance of private sector involvement, noting that AUSII will encourage investments from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to drive sustainable urban sanitation solutions.

At the beginning of his statement, Dr Mbaziira led the participants in observing a moment of silence in honour of the late Albert Diphoorn. Bert, as he was popularly known, was a key figure and played a key role in the establishment of the Africa Water Facility, whose contributions to the sector remain impactful today.

Reflecting on the broader impact of the initiative, Dr Mbaziira expressed confidence in AUSII’s ability to transform Africa’s urban sanitation landscape. “The commitment of AMCOW member states to this initiative is firm,” he said. “We are injecting new approaches to increase domestic allocations to the sector, ensuring inclusive and climate-resilient water security across the continent.”

As the first of its kind, the AUSII launch sets the stage for continued progress in Africa’s water and sanitation sectors. Stakeholders and funding partners, including the African Development Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, were lauded for supporting this initiative.

The AUSII will have a second launch at the upcoming Africa Water Week in Cairo, scheduled for October 2024, where further discussions will be held to ensure its successful implementation across the continent.

To read Dr Mbaziira’s full remarks, click the following link: https://amcow-online.org/amcow-executive-secretarys-remarks-at-the-africa-urban-sanitation-investment-initiative-ausii-launch/

For further information, visit AWF’s official website at https://www.africanwaterfacility.org/ or contact Mar Ajayi M.AJAYI@AFDB.ORG

August 27^th, 2024

Stockholm, Sweden

Dr Rashid Mbaziira, AMCOW Executive Secretary

Excellences, ladies and gentlemen

I am honoured to address you at this official launch of the Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII). This new financing window of the African Water Facility (AWF) will address urban sanitation challenges in Africa.

It also marks a key milestone in the growth of the African Water Facility. Before I get into why it is such a key milestone, allow me to request a moment of silence in honour of the late Albert Diphoorn, who passed away earlier this month. He played a key role in formulating the Africa Water Vision 2025 and translating the idea of improving project preparation financing for water and sanitation into the Africa Water Facility, which is the growth we are celebrating today.

Back to the question of why this launch is such a key milestone in the growth of the African Water Facility: We only have to look at some of the statistics on sanitation and hygiene services provision in Africa to appreciate the significance of this investment initiative.

Information from our Africa Water and Sanitation Sector monitoring system indicates that:

1. as we approach the final milestone year of the Africa Water Vision 2025, and with
2. less than five years to 2030, the target year of the sustainable development agenda:
   • 400 million people in Africa do not have access to potable water;
   • over 800 million people lack access to safely managed sanitation and basic hygiene services; and,
   • nearly 18% of the population still practice open defecation.

Narrowing the focus to urban areas, which are actually better served than rural areas, over 50% of our rapidly growing population living in these centres of development either:

1. lacks adequate sanitation services coverage; or,
2. does not have access to sanitation services of any kind.

That translates into an estimated annual economic cost of US $40 to $50 billion resulting from sanitation failures! Imagining the difference $40-50 billion per annum would make in Africa’s fight against poverty gives an idea of why assuring delivery of inclusive, sustainable and resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services to the entire population on the continent is a fundamental pillar of AMCOW’s work.

More importantly, I will discuss how that would impact the quality of life we aspire for at the grassroots level. In essence, poverty alleviation, food and energy security, as well as the SDGs target for education and health, sustainable cities and communities will not be possible to meet without water security and sustainable sanitation and hygiene services provision.

Excellences, ladies and gentlemen; I may be preaching to the converted, but it does not hurt to highlight that sanitation is a fundamental human right that is critical to public health, environmental sustainability and overall well-being. Especially for women and girls, the lack of access to sanitation and hygiene services is undignified. And as I say that, I am all too aware that inasmuch as appealing to the moral high ground raises passions for this cause, it is communicating this at the same wavelength as what it takes to invest in bringing about dignity that will move the needle.

It is also in this context that Ministers and Heads of Delegations responsible for water, sanitation, hygiene and related affairs in Africa – during the AfricaSan7 Conference held in Swakopmund, Namibia – committed to revitalising the pursuit of the targets of the Ngor declaration through promoting “Accelerated Actions for Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Sanitation and Hygiene Services Delivery in Africa”. 

The commitment of the Member States to deliver on this promise is undeniable as captured in the 2023 AfricaSan Ngor report based on self-assessments from 40 Member States. Our leadership considers sanitation a fundamental issue that touches on the basics of our societies. It is also an issue that requires genuine and continued attention to address urgent needs and, in particular, articulate the sanitation economy as a key first step to raising the profile of sanitation in national systems for economic planning.

Against this background, the Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative is a landmark for the African Water Facility, and for water resources management in Africa in general to accelerate the progress to change the aforementioned statistics.

To date, the Facility has mobilised more than €205 million in grant funding to support the preparation of 135 water and sanitation projects in 52 AU member states.

This funding support leveraged over €1.6 billion in downstream investment in the water and sanitation sectors. As a result, at least an additional 14 million people now have access to a safe water supply.

Over the next decade, the Facility aims to provide 15 million people with safely managed sanitation services through 50 projects while attracting more than €6 billion in additional investments.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative AUSII represents one of the measures being instituted to translate these ambitions into the targeted outcomes. And for this we salute the leadership of the African Water Facility, the African Development Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation for driving forward this ground-breaking initiative.

The Member States of AMCOW fully support the Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative. And what better way to demonstrate this than by injecting new approaches to increase domestic allocations to the sector. This is a key priority in ongoing efforts to formulate an Africa Water Vision and Policy framework for assuring inclusive and climate-resilient water security on the continent. Member States both acknowledge with appreciation and urge continued support and commitment from the Facility’s funding partners and stakeholders to fully operationalise the initiative.

We thank you and look forward to welcoming you in October 2024 to Cairo for the 9^th Africa Water Week and during which the second AUSII launch will take place.

Thank you

What: Launch of the Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative

Who: African Development Bank Group, African Water Facility, and Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP)

When: 27 August 2024; 10:00 – 14:00 CET

Where: In-person and virtual, at the 2024 World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden. Register here

On the sidelines of the Stockholm World Water Week and together with the African Union’s AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments For Africa, the African Water Facility will launch the Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII).

The Facility, hosted by the African Development Bank Group, is the only project preparation and promotion facility solely dedicated to water and sanitation in Africa. The Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative will function as a new financing window for urban sanitation within the African Water Facility, addressing the sanitation challenges in African cities.

Despite sanitation being a fundamental human right, critical to public health, environmental sustainability, and overall well-being, Africa has one of the lowest access rates in the world. An estimated 779 million people on the continent lack basic sanitation services, 208 million still practice open defecation, and 839 million lack basic hygiene services. The African Development Bank estimates that every year, the number of people without access to urban sanitation increases by more than 10 million due to rapid population growth.

The African Water Facility will, through the new sanitation financing window, mobilise and deploy financing, prepare bankable and investment-ready projects, and implement innovative and inclusive approaches such as the city-wide inclusive sanitation approach, which promotes tailor-made sanitation solutions for neighbourhoods and cities. Over the next ten years, the Facility aims to provide 15 million people with safely managed sanitation services through 50 projects and attract $7 billion in additional investments.

The launch is open to African water ministers and representatives of donor institutions, observers, partners, development finance institutions, regional and river basin organisations, the private sector, and the media.

Speakers:

• Dr Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank Group
• Carl-Hermann Gustav Schlettwein, Minister for Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Namibia, and Chair of the African Water Facility Governing Council
• Dr Rashid Mbaziira, Executive Secretary, African Ministers Council on Water
• Ms. Satu Santalla, Managing Director, Nordic Development Fund
• Jumaa Aweso, Minister of Water and Irrigation, Tanzania
• Ravokatra Fidiniavo, Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Madagascar
• Jeff Goldberg, Director, Center for Water Security, Sanitation and Hygiene, USAID
• Anton Jantunen, Sanitation and Hygiene Markets Specialist, United Nations Sanitation and Hygiene Fund
• Ms. Tina Kollerup Hansen, Senior Vice President, Danida Sustainable Infrastructure Finance, Denmark Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU)

Simultaneous interpretation in French and English will be provided.

Click here to register.

Media Enquiry

We invite enquiries from the media on the launch of this initiative and its ambition to improve access to urban sanitation in Africa. To speak with our line-up of experts and spokespersons virtually or at the 2024 World Water Week, please contact:

Mary Ajayi, Water and Sanitation Development Department; Communication and External Relations Department: media@afdb.org

It is with profound sadness that the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) joins the global water community in celebrating the life of Albert Diphoorn. He was a champion and supporter of Africa’s water agenda. Born in Hoogeveen on 24th April 1953, Albert, known affectionately as Bert, passed away on 9th August 2024, leaving an impressive legacy of dedication, commitment and passion to the water and sanitation sector at various levels.

For the African water community, Albert Diphoorn was not just a colleague; he was a visionary leader and a driving force behind many of the critical water-related initiatives that have shaped the African continent. Bert’s contributions to the water sector can be traced to his early days with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MinBuza). He was one of the key architects of the World Water Visioning process leading up to the 2^nd World Water Forum in the Hague in 2000. He supported in this context the formulation of the Africa Water Vision 2025, a blueprint that continues to guide the continent’s water and sanitation agenda. He also played a role in establishing AMCOW to provide political guidance in implementing the African Water Vision 2025.

In defining Africa’s priorities in the water sector in the lead-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002, Bert, as a member of the African Water Task Force (AWTF) proposed the need for the African Water Facility (AWF) to provide financing and technical assistance to African states to facilitate access to the major funds especially MFIs through improved capacity in project preparation, feasibility studies and pilot programs which could be scaled up.

He not only contributed immensely to the conceptualization of the Facility but lobbied for seed funding and establishment within the African Development Bank. He saw its implementation as the first Coordinator of the AWF when he was detached to the AfDB solely for that purpose, which he successfully completed, ensuring that its governance structure had equal representation from AMCOW and the Development Partners. As the Facility grows with national-level water resilience projects all over Africa, it is worth noting that Bert’s enthusiasm, dedication and negotiation skills were fundamental for its success.

Bert’s contributions to the early work programmes of AMCOW were also notable. He lobbied hard for funding for early events such as the Africa Village at the WaterDome at the WSSD in Johannesburg, PANAFCON I in Addis Ababa and the World Water Fora in Kyoto, Mexico City and Istanbul. Technical products such as the African Water Development Reporting process and African Water Journal, which was done under the aegis of AMCOW in collaboration with UN-Water/Africa, could not have been done without Bert’s support in lobbying for funding through the UN-Water/Africa Trust, Fund channelled through UNECA. Similarly, his passion and support for the African Water Week series are memorable. 

To political leaders and technical experts, Bert was an additional strategic voice and served as a mentor, a friend, and a steadfast advocate for Africa’s water and sanitation sector. As we commemorate the impactful life he led, his story will continue to remind us of the power of dedication and collaboration towards achieving the water and sanitation goals. 

As we recall the contributions of Albert Diphoorn to the water and sanitation sector, allow us to extend our deepest condolences to his family (Wilma, Tim, Luuk and Tessa), friends, and all those who had the honour of working alongside him.  

May his soul rest in perfect peace.  

AMCOW 

From July 17 to 20, 2024, the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) conducted a strategic courtesy visit to key water sector stakeholders in Côte d’Ivoire. The mission was led by Executive Secretary Dr Rashid Mbaziira, alongside Patrice Leumeni and Comfort Kanshio – Policy Officers Monitoring and Reporting and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene—the mission aimed to reinforce synergy and align efforts with critical sector actors to address Africa’s water-related challenges.

The visit was marked by high-level meetings with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Water and Forestry, the Africa Water Facility (AWF), and the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA).

During the courtesy call to Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Water and Forestry, Hon. Laurent Tchagba, AMCOW emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in addressing Africa’s pressing water challenges. The discussions focused on the outcomes of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, the need for capacity building, and the critical role of domestic financing for African water projects. Minister Tchagba pledged Côte d’Ivoire’s support for AMCOW’s objectives, expressing willingness to host a future major AMCOW event and confirming participation in the 9th Africa Water Week in Cairo this October.

The AMCOW delegation also engaged with the Africa Water Facility (AWF), represented by AfDB Director of Water and Sanitation, Oswald Chanda. The dialogue appraised the collaboration at the 10th World Water Forum and explored ways to sustain the momentum raised. The AWF committed to supporting the 9th Africa Water Week and contributing to the post-2025 Africa Water Vision consultation process.

Further discussions with AfWASA led to agreements on joint efforts for data collection and reporting, particularly for the Africa Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring and Reporting (WASSMO) platform. AfWASA confirmed its participation in the 9th Africa Water Week and committed to collaborating on advocacy for the post-2025 Africa Water Vision.

This visit is one of those demonstrations of AMCOW’s coordination role in Africa’s water sector. Côte d’Ivoire’s government pledged support for AMCOW’s future initiatives. The mission provided valuable insights into strengthening advocacy efforts, improving data collection mechanisms, and advancing the next phase of Africa’s water sector strategy.

AMCOW will continue to build on these partnerships and creating synergies, with follow-up actions planned for supporting national water projects in Côte d’Ivoire, revising the WASSMO third phase proposal, and advancing stakeholder consultations for the post-2025 Africa Water Vision. These efforts are crucial to ensuring a sustainable and water-secure future for Africa.

Press Release

The African Ministers’ Council on Water is pleased to announce the 9^th edition of the Africa Water Week (AWW9). Held biennially, the AWW is co-organised by the African Union Commission (AUC), the Secretariat of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) with support from partners. The 9^th Africa Water Week will be hosted jointly with the 7^th edition of the Cairo Water Week by the Arab Republic of Egypt under the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation from 13 to 17 October 2024 at the Triumph Hotels in Cairo.

Water is the cornerstone of life, health, and development. As Africa strives to achieve the aspirations of the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, ensuring water security and efficient water resource management has never been more critical. The AWW9 offers partners and stakeholders a platform for exchanging information, knowledge and solutions to deliver on water and sanitation goals in Africa. The events will attract participants from end-users, the public service, development financing, the private sector, civil society, the media, and research and academia worldwide.

The 9th Africa Water Week theme is “Placing Water and Sanitation at the Heart of Achieving Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.”

The overarching goal is to evaluate progress made to actualise the Africa Water Vision 2025 (AWV 2025), especially given the fast-approaching final milestone in 2025. This will guide the formulation of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision, drawing on the achievements, lessons learnt, and emerging issues from the pursuit of the AWV 2025. As such, the engagements will follow six sub-themes as follows:

1. Financing, investments, and resource mobilisation
2. Water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and wastewater
3. Water infrastructure for economic growth, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction
4. Water governance and institutions for managing and protecting water resources
5. Information management and capacity development
6. Gender equality and social inclusion

The Executive Secretary of AMCOW, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, stated, “The theme and subthemes of the 9^th AWW are aligned with Africa’s Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring (WASSMO) themes. The idea is to promote discussions and position the outcomes of the 9^th AWW to contribute to the post-2025 Africa Water Vision towards achieving Agenda 2063.”

Participants will hold discussions under different technical and plenary sessions focusing on topical issues. AWW9 will also feature Ministerial and Parliamentary sessions. Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn and share lessons with key sector actors across the globe, as well as network, engage, and build lasting relationships with other attendees. The primary outcome of the event will be a high-level Ministerial Declaration.

Registration for the 9^th Africa Water Week will begin on 1 August 2024. For more information, kindly visit the Africa Water Week website – https://africawaterweek.amcow-online.org

Abuja, Nigeria – June 28, 2024

The 11th Ordinary Session of the Committee of Experts and the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa is held in Abuja, Nigeria, from June 25 to 28, 2024. This significant event is organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Water Resources Management Center (WRMC), with the esteemed participation of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW).

The sessions aim to reinvigorate the regional IWRM process in West Africa, addressing the dynamic challenges in water resource management and setting strategic directions for the future. Attendees include experts from the member states, representatives from regional and international water management organisations, and key stakeholders from development partners, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector. A ministerial session on 28 June will welcome ministers responsible for water in the Western Africa region.

The objective of the event is to review regional IWRM progress. The sessions will provide a comprehensive update on implementing the IWRM process in West Africa since the 4th Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee, which was held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2015.

Other specific objectives include:

1. Assess the implementation status of the decisions from the 4th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee, ensuring continued alignment with regional water management goals.
2. Set strategic directions by examining the 2024 work program and budget of the WRMC and discussing the strategic plan for 2020-2030, focusing on sustainable and integrated water resource management practices.
3. Share key initiatives by ECOWAS and partners, promoting collaboration across transboundary water basins and enhancing regional water governance.
4. Address the operationalisation of the Regional Water Observatory and the promotion of new basin organisations, ensuring effective monitoring and management of water resources.

AMCOW’s delegation, led by the Executive Secretary, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, is critical in this event and demonstrates its commitment to supporting ECOWAS and its member states. In his remarks, the AMCOW Executive Secretary emphasised the importance of sustainable water management for regional and global development. He reiterated AMCOW’s dedication to enhancing governance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing in sustainable water resources management.

“We are honoured to participate in these critical sessions, which mark a significant step towards strengthening water resource management in West Africa. AMCOW remains committed to supporting ECOWAS in turning challenges into opportunities and ensuring water is a source of life, prosperity, and peace for all.”

The Executive Secretary of AMCOW seized the opportunity to call on all participants to attend the ninth edition of Africa Water Week (AWW9), which will be hosted in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt. The event is expected to result in actionable recommendations and strategic directives to guide and strengthen IWRM in West Africa, ensuring resilient and inclusive water management practices across the region.