… Towards A Prosperous Africa Where Everyone Has Access To Water And Sanitation Resources
Co-organised by the World Water Council and the Republic of Indonesia, the 2024 edition of the World Water Forum which commenced in Bali, Indonesia on May 18 and ends today May, 25 2024, under the thematic preoccupation of ‘Water for Shared Prosperity’, brought thousands of participants from politics, academia, multilateral institutions, civil society, and the private sector around the world to discuss water-related issues.
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) took the front seat for Africa at the forum as it highlighted the importance of preparation, financing and coordination for water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives across Africa.
AfDB and the African Water Facility’s delegations to the world’s largest international gathering of water sector partners shared insights, strategies and stories of sustainable development successes from the continent.
The yearly World Water Forum, now in its 10th edition, brought together thousands of participants from politics, academia, multilateral institutions, civil society, and the private sector to discuss water-related issues.
Remarking, African Water Facility Coordinator Mtchera Chirwa, who represented AfDB Group’s president, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina at the forum said, “The African Development Bank is committed to contributing to sustainable economic growth and progress in Africa. Our participation at this forum adds to the Bank’s ongoing efforts towards a prosperous Africa where everyone has access to essential resources such as water and sanitation. Our target is to strengthen collaboration, and forge new partnerships to accelerate progress in Africa’s water sector.”
Over a roundtable discussion on Global South collaboration, the AfDB delegation joined a high-level meeting of the G20 Bali Global Blended Finance Alliance, where the Indonesian government and partners launched the Alliance Secretariat.
AfDB delegation hosted and spoke at over a dozen forum sessions, including
“Innovative Financing and Resource Mobilisation for Climate-resilient Water and Sanitation Investments” by Mtchera Chirwa, where he spoke on the importance of project preparation and coordination for water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives across Africa, backed by innovative financing solutions.
Members of the Bank delegation also moderated the following topics: “From incubation to financing: developing projects of climate change adaptation in basins of lakes, rivers and aquifers”, a high level panel on “Non-Conventional Water Resources and Associated Renewable Energies”, “Benefits from Transboundary Water Cooperation in the Nile Basin”, “The African Water Facility for the development of climate-resilient water and sanitation investments” amongst others.