AfDB approves new water strategy for African countries

The African Development Bank (AfDB) board has approved a new water strategy for 2021-2025 to increase water security on the continent.

The five-year strategy aimed to increase water security and its sustainability includes green and inclusive socio-economic growth and development in Africa toward a “water-secure Africa”.

The African Development Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture and Human and Social Development, Dr Beth Dunford, said the bank looks at water development and sanitation as the most important components to improving the quality of life for the African people.

“This is a significant milestone for the bank in terms of seeing water development and sanitation as a key component toward improving the quality of the life for the people of Africa,” said Dunford, during the approval last week.

She said the strategy would help the AfDB to expand its role as the continent with partners while promoting integrated development and management of Africa’s water sector.

“The strategy will guide the bank’s implementation of its policy on water which was approved earlier this year,” she said.  

According to Dr Dunford, the water strategy’s four pillars highlight the importance of water and sanitation for socio-economic development, which also include sustainability, resilience, inclusivity, food production and nutrition, as well as hydropower. 

In addition,  AfDB Director for Water Development and Sanitation, Osward Chanda, said the strategy aligns with some of the development plans for the bank, which will also contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

“Water is a key enabler for many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the Bank considers water to be essential for life, health, dignity, empowerment, environmental sustainability, peace, and prosperity,” he said.

 He added that more than 100 of the bank’s stakeholders provided inputs to develop the strategy, which the board lauded as exemplary.

According to Osward, since 2010, the African Development Bank has invested an estimated $6.2 billion in water supply and sanitation services. At the end of October 2021, the bank’s active water sector portfolio stood at $5.02 billion, comprising 104 projects implemented in 40 countries, and five multinational projects.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF), and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 37 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states.

In October 2021, the African Development Bank (AfDB) appointed Zimbabwean technocrat Themba Bhebhe as the Country Manager for South Sudan, effective October 1, 2021.

Bhebhe, who joined the bank in 2002, was the Chief Operation Officer in the department of Operational Committee Secretariat and Quality Assurance before the appointment.  Bhebhe commented on his appointment, saying he has the confidence and opportunity to work as the country manager for South Sudan.

“I will be using my experience and knowledge to support the bank’s engagement and work to improve the economic performance and development of South Sudan,” he said earlier.