World Water Day: African Development Bank Impresses UN 2023 Water Conference | African Development Bank

On World Water Day, the African Development Bank will join leading global stakeholders to call for universal water security for Africans at the UN 2023 Water Conference kicking off today in New York.

The three-day conference will review progress and evaluate additional steps to achieve UN Goal 6 for Sustainable Development — to ensure universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Achieving SDG-6 in Africa is seen as a great challenge; the continent has made less progress than expected in meeting water and sanitation targets.

“The Bank aims to enhance water security for Africa by promoting equitable, sustainable use and better management of water resources for poverty reduction, socio-economic development, regional cooperation and the environment,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President of the African Development Bank. for agriculture, human and social development.

“On World Water Day, the time is right to bring the voice of Africa and African solutions to the world’s highest United Nations meeting on water,” said Dunford.

She will lead a banking delegation to the conference including Osward Chanda, director for water development and sanitation, and Mtchera Johannes Chirwa, coordinator of the African Water Facility. Hosted by the African Development Bank, the facility provides grants and technical assistance to support innovative water projects across Africa.

Delegation members will also participate in plenary sessions, panel discussions, side events and other conference activities.

Dr. Dunford is expected to make a statement on water, sanitation and hygiene services in Africa at a roundtable session co-hosted by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and other government leaders.

Representatives from the African Development Bank will also hold high-level talks with governments, business leaders and development partners to explore ways to channel more investment into water and sanitation infrastructure, and to discuss necessary policy reforms.

The Bank has invested approximately $5.2 billion in water supply and sanitation projects over the past ten years. As a result, 44 million people have gained access to improved water supply and sanitation.

The bank, which prioritizes securing water security for socio-economic transformation through water, food and energy ecosystems, plans to invest approximately $6.4 billion in the sector over the next five years. This is expected to benefit an additional 54 million Africans.

However, population growth in Africa requires more investment to meet the demand for infrastructure and services. African countries invest an average of 0.5% of their gross domestic product in the water sector.