High-level Side Event on Financing Africa’s Water Investments
WHAT: The African Development Bank Group will hold a High-level Side Event on Financing Africa’s Water Investments during the Bank’s 2026 Annual Meetings. The gathering will discuss strategic approaches and innovative financing solutions to accelerate delivery at scale on the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy, leveraging the Bank’s New African Financing Architecture for Development strategic framework for a water-secure and resilient Africa with safe sanitation for all.
WHO: African Development Bank, African Water Facility, the African Ministers’ Council on Water, the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
WHEN: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
TIME: 16:00 – 18:00 hrs WAT
WHERE: Nkieni-Alima Tent, Kintele International Conference Centre, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
Background
The African Development Bank Group will hold its 2026 Annual Meetings from 25 to 29 May, in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, under the theme: "Mobilising Africa's Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World".
Further, considering the African Union declared 2026 the year of “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”, the African Development Bank’s Water Development and Sanitation Department and the African Water Facility, in partnership with the African Ministers’ Council, the African Union, African Water Facility, the African Ministers’ Council on Water, the African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa will organize a high-level side event during the 2026 Annual Meetings.
This side event aims to call upon African leaders, financing institutions, the private sector and various partners to foster stronger synergy and enhanced collaboration to scale up financing for Africa’s water investments, and to make a call for action to replenishing the African Water Facility - thereby accelerating the implementation and delivery on the African Water Vision 2063 and Policy.
This session will rally participants to turn the ambitions of the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy into concrete financing commitments that can unlock a water-secure and climate-resilient future for the continent. Anchored in the African Development Bank Group’s 2026 Annual Meetings theme, and the Bank’s Four Cardinal Points priority areas, the discussions will spotlight how water investments can become a powerful engine for mobilising finance, as well as for building climate-resilient infrastructure, inclusive growth, and jobs. Participants will launch the African Water Facility’s 2026–2030 Strategy and explore the Bank’s New Architecture for Financing Africa Development strategic framework as a pathway to scale innovative and blended financing for water and sanitation.
By linking ready-to-finance projects with high-level political and financial commitments, the side event aims to move from dialogue to measurable action. This is a pivotal opportunity for leaders and participants to help shape one of Africa’s most strategic investment frontiers and drive sustainable development at scale.
For more information
Mtchera Chirwa, Director for Water Development and Sanitation
Email: [email protected]
Louise-Andrée Ndayizeye, Communications Specialist
Email: [email protected]