Over the last 10 years, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has invested approximately $5.2 billion in the water sector to support and strengthen water and sanitation resilience for almost 97 million people in Africa.
Since 2015, the bank has invested an average of $900 million a year, AfDB said in a statement on Wednesday on their Website.
It said that the massive investments in integrated water development and management are central to achieving sustainable water, food and energy security.
In 2022, our water and sanitation portfolio of $473 million provided water access to an estimated 6.8 million people, and jobs to over 24,000 people in Africa.
The theme of World Water Day 2023, “Accelerating change” is a wake-up call to do even more to solve water and sanitation crises. We need collective and urgent action by governments, regional associations, and global development partners.
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“We must also consider the complex interplay between water and energy supply and demand, food ecosystems and the impacts of climate change to address the diverse needs and use of water, develop innovative ideas, and optimise finance in the water sector.
“This year’s World Water Day also coincides with the United Nations’ midterm review of the Water Action Decade. This provides an opportunity for leaders, governments and corporations to pause, reflect and determine urgent actions that are needed to increase the speed of progress in delivery on universal access to water and sanitation.
“Together, these commitments form the Water Action Agenda that will be launched at the UN 2023 Water Conference (22-24 March) – the first event of its kind in nearly 50 years.”
Within the African Development Bank’s High 5 strategic priorities, water security underpins food security (agriculture represents 70% of total water consumption), energy security (high dependence on hydropower, and water is an input for other sources of energy), industrialisation (water as a key input and catalyst), regional integration (through transboundary waters) and particularly improving the quality of life for the people of Africa (impacts on health, nutrition, education, gender equity and livelihoods).
Source: AfDB
