The Governing Council of the African Water Facility has adopted a new five-year strategy, marking an important step in strengthening water security and mobilising resources across the continent. The decision was made during the Facility’s 25th Governing Council Meeting, held in Cairo under the chairmanship of Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Dr. Hani Sewilam. Hosted by the African Development Bank and guided by the African Ministers’ Council on Water, the Facility continues to play a central role in accelerating Africa’s water and sanitation agenda.
The African Water Facility’s 2026–2030 Strategy defines its priorities for advancing water security and expanding access to safe sanitation. It reinforces the organisation’s mission as a catalyst for water and sanitation investments by focusing on project preparation, resource mobilisation, and innovation. The strategy reflects the Facility’s expanded mandate to 2050, which now includes a dedicated urban sanitation financing window to support reimbursable grants, concessional funding tools, and guarantees.
The new strategy emphasises the preparation of robust, investment-ready projects capable of attracting substantial financing while also expanding innovative funding mechanisms to strengthen sector resources. It further prioritises institutional capacity-building to enhance effectiveness and ensure greater impact across Africa’s water and sanitation landscape.
During the Cairo meeting, the Governing Council approved the 2026 Work Programme and Budget, assessed progress on the Facility’s 2025 portfolio, reviewed previous recommendations, and examined future financing opportunities. Council members reiterated the Facility’s essential role in supporting the African Union’s Africa Water Vision 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, calling on development partners to increase their contributions.
Technical and financial partners, including Austria, Denmark, the Nordic Development Fund, and regional institutions, commended the Facility’s improved operational efficiency and the progress made in implementing the Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative. This initiative is aimed at helping governments, utilities, and private actors deliver safe and sustainable urban sanitation services.
The African Development Bank highlighted its strong support, noting that the new strategy positions the Facility as an innovative, high-performing institution ready to expand partnerships, engage the private sector, and diversify financing. Since its establishment in 2004, the African Water Facility has supported nearly 150 projects in 52 countries, helping mobilise around €4 billion in downstream water and sanitation investments.
