The African Water Facility will launch the operationalisation of its new financing window - the Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII) - at the 2024 Stockholm World Water Week in August. Here are four things you should know about it:
1. Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative will address the growing needs of urban population in Africa, where currently 52% (about 200 million people) lack basic or improved sanitation facilities, through innovative technologies and climate-resilient sanitation solutions.
2. The initiative promotes a paradigm shift from conventional infrastructure investments to inclusive urban sanitation approach, tailored to the diverse realities of different cities and their inhabitants' needs.
3. In the first 10 years of operation, Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative will directly improve sanitation access for 15 million urban inhabitants through the preparation of 50 projects. It will also mobilise financial resources totalling $7 billion in commercial and concessional finance to bolster private and public sector sanitation projects.
4. Through the initiative, the African Water Facility will promote the involvement and investment of the private-sector and small medium enterprises in urban sanitation.