Under its revised 2017-2025 Strategy, the AWF seeks to contribute to the development of effective water governance systems, river/lake basin level cooperation, and an enabling environment for water investments in Africa by supporting the development and review of policy and regulatory frameworks, capacity building of water sector institutions at national/subnational, REC and RBO levels.
The AWF addresses climate change mainstreaming in its projects through integration of :
The AWF current Strategy covers the period 2017-2025 and aligns with the operations of the Bank Group’s new Water Policy (2021) and AfDB Water Strategy (2021), which embrace a broader focus on water security. The long-term goal of the AWF strategy revised in 2021 is to contribute to “improved quality of life for urban and rural communities in Africa”.
The funders of the AWF to-date are Algeria, Australia, Austria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Denmark, France, Nigeria, Norway, United Kingdom, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, AfDB, European Commission, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The Nordic Development Fund.
The AWF is funded through cash and in-kind contributions from donor countries, multilateral development finance institutions, philanthropic and other organizations.
The AWF provides grants and technical assistance to support the preparation and implementation of water and sanitation infrastructure projects as well as water management measures throughout Africa, thereby contributing to attainment of the Africa Water Vision 2025 and water-related Sustainable Development Goals. The AWF’s long-term goal is contribute to improved quality of life for rural and urban communities in Africa. The objectives of the AWF 2017-2025 Strategy are anchored on four strategic pillars.
The purpose and mandate of the African Water Facility is to pool the resources mobilized from donors and participants to finance water and sanitation infrastructure and water investment facilitating activities in Africa. The AWF has a current existence mandate up to 2050, which shall be reviewed and extended as required.
The African Water Facility is housed within the headquarters of the African Development Bank Group in the Centre de Commerce International d'Abidjan (CCIA) building on Joseph Anoma Avenue in Plateau, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
The AWF was legally established by the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank, in 2004 by approving the Instrument for its establishment. The AWF was established as a critical financing tool to support the attainment of the African Water Vision.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is the trustee for the African Water Facility Special Fund. The Bank houses the AWF on behalf of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), and in its capacity as trustee and legal owner of the Facility, holds in trust the funds, assets and receipts which constitute the resources of the Water Fund, and manages and applies them for the purpose of, and in accordance with, the provisions of the Establishment Instrument of the water fund.