The African Development Bank (AfDB) has invested more than $8 billion in water infrastructure projects across 40 African countries since 2000, benefiting over 92 million people. This announcement was made by Johannes Chirwa, Director of the Water Development and Sanitation Department at AfDB, during the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) West Africa sub-regional meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
Represented by Emily Kilongi, AfDB’s Principal Water and Sanitation Engineer, Chirwa noted that the meeting was essential for assessing progress, addressing challenges, and shaping future water management strategies. He emphasized that AfDB has been actively engaged in policy dialogue through initiatives such as African Water Week and AfricaSan.
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According to Chirwa, AfDB is committed to enhancing water governance through initiatives like the Pan-African Water Sector Monitoring and Reporting System (WASSMO) and developing a post-2025 Africa Water Vision aimed at creating a comprehensive and impactful strategy.
AUC’s Perspective and Future Goals
Jihane El Gaouzi, a representative of the African Union Commission (AUC), acknowledged the progress made by the Africa Water Vision 2025 in raising awareness about water and sanitation issues. However, she stressed that significant challenges remain, particularly in achieving equitable and sustainable water access.
El Gaouzi highlighted upcoming events aimed at strengthening Africa’s water security, including the Africa Water Summit scheduled for August 2025 in South Africa and the UN Water Conference in 2026, to be co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal. She also noted that water and sanitation have been designated as the African Union’s official theme for 2026 under Agenda 2063.
Both AfDB and AUC called for stronger collaboration among governments, the private sector, and regional organisations, reaffirming their commitment to Africa’s post-2025 water vision through strategic planning and policy-driven investments.
