The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) has provided a US $9.2m grant to the African Water Facility (AWF), a fund hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to strengthen drinking water supply and sanitation in the Sahel and Horn of Africa.
Wambui Gichuri, Director of the Water and Sanitation Development Department of NDF confirmed the report and said that the grant is for the revival and preparation of investment-ready projects for water supply, sanitation and integrated water resources management in the Sahel and Horn of Africa and will also allow the revival of the AWF activities after a period of uncertainty caused by Covid-19.
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Water resources development activities in Africa
The AWF is an initiative led by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) to mobilise funds to finance water resources development activities in Africa. The NDF Board of Directors approved the grant as part of its “COVID-19 Recovery through Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation in Africa” initiative to enable recovery and improve the quality of life of families in the Sahel and Horn of Africa. These two parts of the African continent are known for their arid climate, which increases water stress.
As part of its programme, the Nordic Development Fund builds on its cooperation with the AfDB to prepare investments in climate resilient water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). The programme follows an earlier Nordic Development Fund grant to AWF to fund a call for proposals for the preparation of climate resilient water infrastructure and water resources management in sub-Saharan Africa. The NDF is supported in these initiatives by the Government of Denmark.
“This grant will enable the AWF to fulfil its mandate to prepare investment-ready projects and its climate resilient approach to water supply, sanitation and integrated water resources management interventions,” said Wambui Gichuri.
The programme follows an earlier Nordic Development Fund grant to AWF to fund a call for proposals for the preparation of climate resilient water infrastructure and water resources management in sub-Saharan Africa. The NDF is supported in these initiatives by the Government of Denmark.
