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The African Water Facility (AWF) supports a very broad range of activities to assist Regional Member Countries (RMCs) and their organizations (River Basin Organizations, Regional Economic Communities) in the integral implementation of the African water Vision (AWV). Several new areas of activities have been included to align the Facility more closely with this vision, and to take into account the Facility's accummulated experience with the wide range of proposals and expressions of interest it has received to-date. To achieve this objective, the AWF provides operational support mainly for the achievement of the following national and regional strategic objectives: i) Strengthening water governance at the national and transboundary levels; ii) Investments to meet water needs; iii) Strengthening of the financial base; and iv) Improving water knowledge.

To date, the Facility has a portfolio of 61 projects estimated at €69 millions  in 28 countries and Regional Organizations. It contributes to some of the topical issues on African development: i) Climate Variability which is addressed through interventions in National IWRM and Transboundary Water Resources Management (TWRM); ii) Water Security by supporting the improvement and strengthening of governance as it relates to water resources, and provides support to countries for better and sustainable access to water resources; iii) Food Security is covered by the Facility's interventions in water for agricultural use and multi-purpose infrastructure platforms, which are significant contributions to food productions; and the MDGs as they constitute a steppingstone in the realization of the African Water Vision. The AWF contributes to the direct increase in water and sanitation coverage. More importantly, the Facility supports the strengthening of the enabling environment and piloting of new approaches, allowing countries to increase their capacity to attract and utilize funding more efficiently in the sector.

With the completion of its first projects towards the end of 2009, results for strengthening capacity and enabling environments are emerging. As an outcome of AWF interventions, funding has already been mobilized and investments estimated at €227 million will be generated. The Facility has also delivered results in promoting strategic initiatives in support of AMCOW: i) High level dialogue-Delivering on Water Security and Sanitation Commitments: To follow up on the many significant high level commitments and declarations made over the past few years, AWF played a leading role in the preparation of the African regional paper presented at the 5th World Water Forum on "Bridging Divides in Africa's water Security: An Agenda to implement Existing Political Commitments" as well as  the follow-on document on "Delivering on Water Security and Sanitation Commitments: Action Plan and Framework for Reporting to the African Union"; and ii) Pan African Monitoring and Evaluation: AWF undertook a Pan- African water sector M&E assessment, and an action plan for strengthening M&E systems acrsoss Africa was prepared. A template was developed for rapid assessment of country M&E systems in a standardized approach. A step- by-step work plan is under implementation for supporting national efforts to strengthen their M&E capabilities (currently 12 countries are tageted).

As the Facility strives to achieve its objectives, more challenges as well as opportunities will arise. The AWF team would like to thank its partners for their support.

Nouakchott, 1 December 2009

1. The 9th Governing Council (GC) of the African Water Facility was hosted by the Government of the Islamic Rwepublic of Mauritania, in Nouakchott from 30th November to 1st December 2009. It was attended by 11 members of the Council as well as observers representing the Technical Advisory Committee, donors and Government of Mauritania.

2. The Council unanimously endorsed the nomination of H.E. Bruno Jean Richard ITOUA, former President of AMCOW and Minister of Energy and Hydraulics of the Republic of Congo as new Chairman of the Council.

3. The meeting recognized the good progress the African Water Facility continues to make and achievements realized, despite funding and staffing constraints. The Council applauded the good quality support given by the African Development Bank in the management of the Facility as well as the consideration for the direct contribution to the Facility's Fund. The Council endorsed and requested and requested the top management of the African Development Bank to continue and deepen the leadership and support given to the Facility.

4. The Council requested AWF Secretariat to ensure that documents, including progress reports are circulated in good time in conformity with its past decisions.

5. The Council expressed concern about the disbursement of funds for projects approved by the Facilty. The Council noted that the disbursement levels are quite good compared to other sector initiatives. It however requested the AWF to address existing bottleneck in the AWF operation with the view of bringing about the necessary improvements. The Council noted, with particular concern, the problem related to opening bank accounts in Euros, in BCEAO region. The Council called for an immediate solution to ensure that the AWF remained an easily accessible, innovative and flexible financing mechanism.

6. The Council stressed the importance of project supervision to ensure project quality and timely delivery of results. The GC further underlined the need for documenting results from completed projects and dissemination of these to share the experiences and enhance the value added aspect of the Facility.

7. The Facility was encouraged to continue implementing its recruitment plans. The Council expressed the view that appropriate staffing would be essential for delivering results, which, in turn, help in fund raising and the grwoth of the Facility.

8. The Council stated that, in developing the project portfolio, quality assurance should remain the key consideration. It also observed that the portfolio must be maintained at a critical size to allow the Facility to make a tangible difference in the water sector on the continent. AWF's flexible approach and support to the beneficiaries during project preparation and implementation was appreciated. The Council urged the Facility to maintain and enhance this approach.

9. The Council observed that resources mobilization interventions by all stakeholders had been limited. It therefore agreed that these efforts must be significantly stepped up.

10. The need for a high level personality supporting resources mobilization efforts remained fully relevant. However, rather than engaging a new "embassador", the Facility and AMCOW should consider making use of the AMCOW Goodwill Ambassador and President of Liberia, the AMCOW President, the Chairman of the Governing Council and other AWF Council members.

11. The Council committed to raising funds for AWF from several more African countries which ought to more clearly demonstrate their ownsership of AWF. It welcomed the forthcoming meeting of Ministers of Water and Finance (Scheduled for March 2010) called for by the Sharm El Sheikh Declaration on water and sanitation. This opportunity must be seized to also mobilize resources for the AWF.

12. The Council endorsed the proposal for a convening of donor roundtable in 2010 as a means of mobilizing resources for the Facility.

13. The Council noted with appreciation the willingness of European Commission, Spain, Austria, and Norway to consider a new phase of support to AWF when the current ones expire. 

14. The Council noted with appreciation the very positive findings of the European Commission's institutional assessment of the Bank'd Fiduciary capacity, underpinning the high level of confidence in the Bank's Management of the Fund of the Facility.

15. With regard to the Operational Effectiveness Assessment, the issues identified for further analysis in the Consultants' presentation were endorsed. The Council recommended that AMCOW be represented in the Assessment Committee by the Executive Secretary and the Chairperson of the TAC. A stakeholder workshop shall be held in Tunis to discuss recommendations before the report is presented to an extraordinary meeting of the Council. The outgoing Chairman H.E Mr. Monyane Moleleki, Minister of Water Resources of the Kingdom of Lesotho, will chair the Effectiveness Assessment Committee.

16. The GC welcomed the presentation of the report on " Delivering on Africa's Water Security Commitments: A Framework for Reporting Actions to the African Union" on the implementation of the AU Heads of State Sharm El Sheikh Commitments on Water and Sanitation. The report was adopted at the 7th Ordinary Session of AMCOW at Johannesburg in November 2009. It commended the ADB, AWF and other AMCOW partners for the role in developing this framework. The Council endorsed the recommendations for the AWF to consider re-aligning its operations to respond to these actions and support the implementation of the framework.

17. The Council endorsed the 2010 Work Plan and Budget subject to incorporation of the comments from the Council members, according particular attention to the following:

• Project  quality, relevance and sustainability
• Gender and socio-economic consideration
• Impact of climate change
• Fragile states
• Strengthening financial base
• Comparative analysis of annual budgetary allocations with actual commitments and expenditures.

18. The Council endorsed the acceptance speech of the incoming Chairman read out by Mr. Charles Ngangoue, outgoing Chairman of AMCOW TAC. The speech contained the following:

• The establishment of a preparatory committee for the upcoming meeting of Ministers of Water Affairs and Ministers of Finance
• Enhancement of contribution by African Countries and donors to the AWF special fund.

19. The Council accepted the new members designated by AMCOW to serve respectively on the AWF Governing Council, and the AMCOW TAC/AWF Committee of ten as follows:

• The AMCOW representatives of AWF GC are: Mauritania and Algeria for North Africa, Senegal and the Gambia for West Africa, Cameroun and the Republic of Congo for Central Africa, Kenya and Burundi for East Africa, and Lesotho and Namibia for Southern Africa.
• The AMCOW TAC/AWF Committee of 10 are: Mauritania and Algeria for North Africa, Senegal and the Gambia for West Africa, Cameroun and the Republic of Congo for Central Africa, Kenya and Burundi for East Africa, and Lesotho and Namibia for Southern Africa.

20. Vote of thanks:

• The GC thanked the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Minister and staff of Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation for the warm welcome accorded to it and the excellent organization and the high quality chairmanship of the GC meeting.
• The GC thanked H.E. Mr. Monyane Moleleki, Minister of Water Resources of the Kingdom of Lesotho and the outgoing Chairman, for the excellent leadership and achievement and the high quality chairmanship of the GC over the past two years.

21. The Council decided to convene the 10th ordinary meeting of the AWF Governing Council in October 2010 in Tunis. The GC will also hold an extraordinary meeting in May/June 2010 to review and approve the Operational Effectiveness Assessment report.

December 1, 2009

Nouakchott, MAURITANIA

La FAE s’est engagée à créer une prise de conscience sur les questions relatives à l’eau les plus importantes et à diffuser à leur propos une information compréhensible.

Dans cette section vous trouverez une sélection d’articles relatifs à l’eau et à l’assainissement en Afrique provenant de journaux africains ainsi que des dépêches d’agences panafricaines de presse telles que Panapress.