The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) has committed $3- million to the African Water Facility to help accelerate the preparation of water and sanitation investment projects in Africa.

The African Water Facility, which is an initiative of the African Ministers Council on Water and is hosted by the African Development Bank, is the only African project preparation facility solely focused on addressing water and sanitation issues on the continent.

Currently, about 400-million people lack basic water supply services, over 700-million people have no access to decent sanitation, nearly 200-million people still practise open defecation and 750-million people have no access to hygiene.

The African Water Facility aims to help African countries achieve the objectives and targets set by the water-related Sustainable Development Goals and the African Water Vision 2025.

Large-scale investment is required in water supply and sanitation to improve governance of water resources and operations, design climate-resilient infrastructure and achieve water security and sanitation for all.

Since inception, the facility has provided €205-million in grant funding for water and sanitation projects in Africa and enabled over €1.7-billion in downstream investment in the water and sanitation sector.

The USAid funding will support the preparation of water and sanitation investment projects in Africa, through the provision of grants and technical assistance to African countries and regional economic communities.

“This USAid financing affirms growing international support for the African Water Facility as a trusted partner and resource for Africa’s water sector. We thank the US for the funding commitment that will contribute to scaling up the facility’s work and positively impacting on more people across the continent,” said African Development Bank agriculture, human and social development VP Dr Beth Dunford.

Under its 2022 to 2027 Strategy, USAid aims to enable 22-million people to have access to safe drinking water, with as many people having access to sanitation over five years.

USAid committed its support ahead of its 2023 funding dialogue, to be held in Paris in October, where the facility will engage donors, beneficiary governments, and multilateral and international organisations to enhance financing for water and sanitation investment projects in Africa.

The African Water Facility exists to accelerate viable, climate-responsive investments by providing grants, technical assistance and developing catalytic and innovative projects to improve water and sanitation service delivery and water governance in Africa, said African Water Facility coordinator Mtchera Chirwa.

The facility’s revised Strategic Plan 2017 to 2025 aims to mobilise resources to increase the delivery of bankable investment projects in water and sanitation across the continent.

This is expected to enable access to climate-resilient and safely managed water supply for 2.6-million people and provide basic sanitation facilities to 2.4-million people.