The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved the work plan and budget of the African Water Facility for the current year.
The plan addresses past challenges and proposes solutions on the pressing issues of resource mobilization, filling vacancies, monitoring ongoing projects more closely and resolving issues more quickly, and strengthening the capacity of project implementing agencies.
A statement issued by the bank on the Plan today indicated in order to be realistic about the complexities of transitioning to the new 2017-2025 strategy, which emphasizes resource mobilization, 2018 operational targets took 2017 results as their baseline, involving four planned project approvals worth €4 million and planned disbursements of approximately €8 million.
It stated that further that the 2018-2020 plan would be prepared to provide an additional monitoring tool.
According to the continental development finance institution, the main strategic focus for 2018 is to put African Urban Sanitation Investment Fund into operation.
Under this initiative, largely funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, four city-wide urban sanitation projects will be prepared to ready them to secure public and/or private financing and seed funding (catalytic investment) will be provided for two catalytic investments projects to enable private sector owners to pilot viable business opportunities such as innovative non-sewer sanitation technologies.
It stated further: “The AWF will continue to engage with development partners to better align their respective activities to address Africa’s water priorities.
“In response to the new strategic objective of securing more investment, it will coordinate with the African Ministers’ Council on Water to harmonize its activities and related strategic initiatives, create an investment promotion platform and organize joint investment promotion events
“AWF will continue to integrate crosscutting considerations having an essential impact on developing the water sector into its interventions.
“It is committed to addressing gender and social equity, given the different roles, needs and experiences of women and men in accessing and using water. Climate change, employment creation, private sector participation and transition states are also considered in every intervention.
“The Facility’s administrative budget of €4.42 million will be financed from its special fund (€2.465 million) and €1.955 million from the Bank”, AfDB added.
