What is the connection between water and sanitation? Both are essential to survival and are fundamental rights of all people. In Africa, these precious resources remain crucial to sustenance and to improving social and human development, and we are proud to work with African countries to ensure their availability, accessibility, and sustainability.
Two weeks ago, we met in Paris for our second funding dialogue since the Facility's inception. Together with stakeholders, including donors, partners, and representatives of multilateral and international institutions, we explored innovative approaches to financing access to water and sanitation in Africa. From the meeting, it was clear that there is an appreciation for the increasing demand for these resources on the continent, and the need for a joint commitment to deploy more investments and technical expertise as a response.
It was also apparent that we cannot continue to do business as usual, and that, to accelerate the universal change that we seek, we must function as a community of likeminded people, driven by the same mission and with a unified approach to tackling the water and sanitation crisis on the continent.
At the African Water Facility, the vision is clear, and our goal is simple: improved quality of life for urban and rural communities in Africa. We do this through the deployment of financial resources, provision of technical expertise, and water governance.
An Africa where there is equitable management and development of water resources for poverty alleviation, socioeconomic development, regional cooperation, climate resilience and environmental protection, and where there is universal access to safe water supply, sanitation and hygiene services is possible. With the strong support of our donors and partners, and the cooperation of regional economic communities, we will continue to serve as a unified agent of change in Africa's water and sanitation sector.
Mchera Johannes Chirwa -
Coordinator, African Water Facility