Water Governance

The enabling environment at all levels for the planning, preparation, and implementation of water infrastructure projects, and for the sustainable management and development of water resources in Africa is weak and unable to effectively support socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience.

At the heart is improving water governance, defined as “the set of rules, practices, and processes through which decisions for the management of water resources and services are taken and implemented, stakeholders articulate their interest and decision-makers are held accountable” (OECD, 2016). Policy and regulatory frameworks that facilitate Integrated Water Resource Management practices and good water management are weak in several countries, sub-regions and transboundary water basins in Africa. Institutional frameworks are also typically weak and fragmented.

Strengthening the enabling environment and building capacity should be an integral part of any sustained effort to enhance sector governance in Africa. Access to data and information on water resources improves understanding of water issues and supports governance processes. However, investment in knowledge management remains low, and development and operation of formal knowledge systems for water resources and WASH systems is still limited in many parts of Africa. In shared river basins and aquifers, absence of basic data and knowledge of flows and variability represents a constraint for cooperative management and development of transboundary water resources (African Development Bank, 2020).

The African Water Facility contributes to the development of effective water governance systems and an enabling environment for water development and sanitation investments in Africa by supporting the development and review of policy and regulatory frameworks, and of capacity building of water sector institutions at national/subnational, Regional Economic Communities and River Basin Organization levels.

Our key interventions under water governance includes:

Strengthening mechanisms for cross-sectoral coordination and stakeholder engagement at national/subnational, Regional Economic Communities and River Basin Organization levels
Supporting reviews of water sector policies and regulations
Promoting sector-wide approaches
Strengthening information and knowledge systems at Regional Economic Communities and River Basin Organization levels
Strengthening capacity of urban and rural institutions in the Regional Member Countries
Strengthening African Water Facility’s knowledge management and communications systems in partnership with knowledge-generating institutions and networks, such as the Integrated Water Management Initiative and Global Water Partnership
Ensuring the flow of knowledge and information on water resources and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Creating entrepreneurship opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises and African youths in rural and urban settings
Nurturing partnerships essential for increasing the visibility of the African Water Facility

Priority will be given to fragile countries with interventions aimed at strengthening water sector policy, legal and institutional framework of Regional Member Countries. Building on the experience and lessons from the operations of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) Trust Fund, our ‘Water Governance’ strategic priority will be used to support the African Development Bank’s lending operations in the Regional Member Countries through a grant component. These grants will serve as a catalyst in addressing the enabling environment for sustainability requirements for integrated water resources management and development.

Partnerships to be created under this strategic priority will be with sovereign and non-sovereign entities (such as think tanks, utilities, River Basin Organizations and International Non-Governmental Organizations) to support programme implementation, and with Centers of Excellence and water research institutions and their networks, to promote knowledge production, sharing and learning.