(AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK) - The Governing Council of the African water Facility (AWF) has commended the Facility for mobilizing over €1.4 billion for the implementation of projects. The Facility has also funded 117 national and regional projects in 52 countries, including transition states, since it began operations in 2006.

The AWF received the commendation at the 18th meeting of the Governing Council of the Facility, held 6-7 December 2018 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

At the end of the two-day event, the Council commended the efforts made by AWF in delivering its mandate since the inception of its operations and invited Management to submit the  proposed 2019 work plan and budget to the African Development Bank’s Board for approval.

The Council noted that the AWF mobilized more than €1.4 billion as follow-on investments for implementation of the prepared projects, having funded 117 national and regional projects in 52 countries, including Africa’s transition states.

“The African Water Facility is one of the flagship initiatives of the African Development Bank and a model of success,” said Wambui Gichuri (photo), the Bank’s Director of Water Development and Sanitation.

Speaking on behalf of Jennifer Blanke, Vice-President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Gichuri said “The Bank is proud of its multiple roles with respect to the AWF:   co-founder, trustee, host institution, administrator and programmatic partner. As Trustee, the Bank ensures that donor resources provided to AWF for projects are managed with the highest fiduciary standards.  As host and administrator, the Bank provides a physical home and the attendant amenities to AWF staff, as well as administrative budget support,” She said.

The Council reviewed and endorsed the: AWF Progress Report for 2018. It also approved the 2019 Annual Work Plan and Budget of €4.42 million as well as the 2018-2020 Medium Term Plan and provided inputs for improving the AWF draft Resource Mobilization Strategy and Action Plan.

The Secretary General of Senegal’s Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Thierno Hamet Baba Ly, chaired the meeting, representing Mansour Faye, the chair of the Council. Participants included representatives of African ministers in charge of Water Resources, Development Partners and African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) Technical Advisory Committee Observers.

In his opening remarks, Thierno Hamet stressed the relevance of the AWF in addressing the critical gaps that African countries face “in the provision of water and sanitation to many needy people, by helping to mobilize funds for major investment projects needed for water security in Africa, and by creating the enabling environment for these investments to succeed.”

The AWF seeks to embark on a vigorous campaign to mobilize resources for implementation of AWF’s Strategy 2017-2025.  In 2019, the AWF will focus on implementing the roll out of the “City-wide Sanitation Initiative,” which will include appraising, and approving several projects, and preparing a water and climate adaptation program.

The AWF was established in 2005 by AMCOW as a multilateral fund that provides grants and technical assistance to enable governments, NGOs and private-public partnerships to secure investments and implement sustainable water projects throughout Africa.