The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a new policy on water with a view to fostering sustainable, green and inclusive economic growth in regional member countries.
The policy on prioritising water security and the transformation of water assets aims to promote Africa-wide attainment of a minimum platform of water security, with a special focus on areas of fragility.
It also aims to assist African countries and sub-regional groups harness and sustain water resources productivity potential to support development.
Covid-19 has exposed vulnerabilities caused by under-investment in water, sanitation and hygiene services, also known as WASH.
In its latest report, Turn the tide: The state of the world’s water 2021, WaterAid noted how people are losing access to clean water as longer droughts dry up springs.
Africa, it is understood, has been warming progressively since the start of the last century, and in the next five years, according to the UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), northern and southern Africa are likely to get drier and hotter, while the Sahel region gets wetter.
‘This new policy on water provides a general framework for the African Development Bank group to expand its role as the continent’s partner promoting the integrated development and management of Africa’s water sector for inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa’, AfDB’s Acting Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Atsuko Toda, said in a statement.
The new water policy is anchored around the principle of attaining water security at household, national and regional levels, as well as ensuring equitable social welfare and economic growth.
According to the bank, the policy is also anchored around promoting sustainable and equitable access to water services as an enabler for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In its assessment of the policy, the bank’s board commended the bank’s water, policy and strategy departments for leading the policy-preparation process.
‘The board’s acknowledgement will add to our motivation to see the policy diligently implemented’, AfDB’s Officer in Charge of Water Development and Sanitation Department, Osward Chanda, said.
‘We are grateful for the inputs and perspectives provided by bank departments that are part of the water ecosystem, which helped shape this water policy’.
AfDB, in the statement, noted that it will establish an internal coordination mechanism for water-related interventions to be overseen by a committee with adequate capacity, resources and appropriate skills.
It is understood that since 2010, the bank has invested an estimated $6.2 billion in water supply and sanitation services delivery.
Source: AfDB
Photo source: World Bank Photo Collection
