Mtchera Johannes Chirwa
Mr. Mtchera Johannes Chirwa is the Director for Water Development and Sanitation at the African Development Bank Group and Coordinator of African Water Facility – a Bank-hosted special fund for water sector project preparation and promotion.
Niger Basin – multipurpose infrastructure to adapt to climate change
December 2013 - The Niger Basin Authority received a €1.5 million grant to conduct feasibility studies for infrastructure aimed at adapting to climate change. The AWF will also catalyse investments through supporting technical, economic, financial, environmental and social feasibility studies. 137 million people are expected to benefit from this project.
Investment Promotion
We aim to make the water sector more attractive to private investors and operators and increase the number of investment projects for water in Africa, accelerating the process from project identification to financial close.
Water Governance
We contribute to the development of effective water governance systems in Africa by supporting the development and review of policy and regulatory frameworks, and the capacity building of water sector institutions.
Catalytic Investment
We deploy small but catalytic investments, or seed funding, to enable project owners to implement their projects. Our catalytic Investments provide strategic financing at the late stage of project development phases, to support implementation or enable private players to increase project financing.
AWF Strategy 2026–2030: A Call to Action
African Water Facility Strategy 2026–2030: A Call to Action
The African Water Facility (AWF) enters its 2026–2030 Strategy period at a defining moment for Africa’s water and sanitation sector. Rapid population growth, accelerating urbanisation, climate change, and widening financing gaps are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources and service delivery systems, while traditional sources of development finance continue to decline.