Over 400 million people in Africa do not have access to clean water. Over 700 million lack adequate sanitation services - meaning no proper toilets, nowhere to wash their hands, etc.
An International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, which will draw representatives from captains of the industry, foundation leaders, and other influencing personalities, was formally launched at the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal this week.
The objective of the panel is to develop actionable pathways for mobilizing USD 30 billion annually until 2030 to close the existing water investment gap on the continent.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that Africa needs to invest USD 64 billion into water and sanitation annually in order to achieve the Africa Water Vision of Water Security for All 2025. In reality, only USD 10 - USD 19 billion is invested each year , leaving a huge investment gap of USD 45 - USD 54 billion per year.
“The need for investment in the water sector is high because it trickles down into all of the Sustainable Development Goals. Every Euro or Dollar invested in the sector comes back to us five times over in the form of protection from floods and droughts, food security, better health, stronger economies, and biodiversity, ”says H.E. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Co -Chair of the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa.