The outfit of 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia from May 18 to 25, 2024 is an opportunity for the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to highlight the importance of preparation, financing and coordination of initiatives in water, sanitation and hygiene in Africa. Bank and African Water Facility delegations attending the largest international gathering of water sector partners share ideas, strategies and success stories for sustainable development on the continent.
The World Water Forum, held every three years since 1997, brings together thousands of participants from politics, academia, multilateral institutions, civil society and the private sector to debate issues related to water water. This year’s Forum 2024 is jointly organized by the World Water Council and the Republic of Indonesia, under the theme: “Water for shared prosperity”.
For the coordinator of the African Water Facility, who represents the President of the Bank Group, Akinwunmi Adesina, at the forum, “the African Development Bank is determined to contribute to sustainable economic growth and progress in Africa. Our participation in 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.”
“I am delighted to lead this delegation to share strategies from the Bank’s work, strengthen collaboration and forge new partnerships to accelerate progress in Africa’s water sector,” added Mtchera Chirwa.
The Bank delegation will participate in a high-level meeting of the G20 Global Blending Finance Alliance in Bali, where the Indonesian government and its partners will launch the Alliance secretariat and hold a roundtable discussion on collaboration between southern countries.
The Bank hosted and spoke at more than a dozen Forum sessions, including an event on May 21, 2024, showcasing the African Facility for Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative in Africa. water — a new financing window dedicated to improving sanitation in urban areas in Africa. Debjyoty Mukherjee, Senior Expert for Public-Private Partnership Financing at the African Water Facility, moderated the discussion.
Along the same lines, on May 22, Mr. Chirwa moderated a session on the theme “Innovative financing and resource mobilization for climate-resilient water and sanitation investments”. This event highlighted the importance of project preparation and coordination for water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives in Africa, supported by innovative financing solutions. He also spoke during the closing ceremony of the Basin Segment Day, as part of the “Round Table of Basin Champions”, which takes place on May 22, 2024.
In addition, members of the Bank delegation spoke or moderated during the following sessions:
. “Round table of multilateral development banks” – Monday May 20, 2024.
. High-level event under the theme “From incubation to financing: developing climate change adaptation projects in lake, river and aquifer basins” – Monday May 20, 2024.
. High-level panel on “Unconventional water resources and associated renewable energies” – Tuesday May 21, 2024.
. “The benefits of cross-border cooperation in the Nile Basin” – Wednesday May 22, 2024.
. The Bank’s investment areas in water and sanitation and Bank projects such as the Kigali Bulk Water Supply System – Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
. “The African Water Facility”, the project preparation facility in Africa for the development of climate-resilient water and sanitation investments – Thursday, May 23, 2024.
. “The African Development Bank and the private sector” – Friday May 24, 2024.
The Bank delegation met with donors and business leaders to discuss partnerships and financing to meet Africa’s growing needs for improved water and sanitation services. The Bank is also co-hosting the Africa Pavilion alongside the African Union Commission, the African Ministers’ Council on Water and the African Water Facility. This collaboration aims to present a unified discourse and share knowledge from the African water sector in order to enrich the global dialogue at the forum.
Moctar FICUU / VivAfrik
