The Agreement was signed in Zanzibar at the Bank of Tanzania, Zanzibar branch by Dr. Juma Akil, Principal Secretary of Finance and Planning in the President's Office, Dr. Salha Moh'd Kassim, Director General of Zanzibar Water Authority (ZAWA), and Madam Andrea Hoeltke from the Bank of Germany (KFW). The function was attended by Senior Government officials from Zanzibar, including the Minister of State, Finance, and Planning - Dr. Saada Mkuya Salum, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Water, Energy, and Minerals - Hon. Shaaban Ali Othman, the Principal Secretary from the Ministry of Water, Energy, and Minerals - Dr. Mngereza Mzee Miraji, and other Government Officials.
Senior Officials from the Governments of Zanzibar and Germany at the Official Signing Ceremony in Zanzibar
A total of EURO 660,000 from KFW will be used to conduct a feasibility study for the water sector. Hon. Shaaban stated that this is a great step for the revolutionary Government of Zanzibar as it will help in the implementation of the Zanzibar Water Investment Program that was launched by HE Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi earlier this year, on 11 March. Dr. Salhat Moh'd Kassim said this grant will help to evaluate underground water and its infrastructure and will provide a better understanding of the amount of underground water there is and how to get it, so that the people of Zanzibar can be free from the challenges of access to clean water.
The Zanzibar Water Investment Program will mobilize over USD $ 665.5 million between 2022-2027 towards securing clean and sustainable water supply for the island's population and fast-growing economy. The Program supports the implementation of the Development Vision 2050 towards achieving the Blue Economy Policy. It is geared towards promoting investment in the sector, strengthening governance, enhancing capacity of various stakeholders, mobilizing resources, and ultimately ensuring optimal water supply to all.
The Water Investment Program is the first country-specific plan, designed under the Continental Africa Water Investment Program (AIP), which aims to mobilize USD $ 30 billion per year towards water security in Africa. The AIP was adopted by African Union Heads of State and Government, as part of the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa - Priority Action Plan 2 (PIDA-PAP 2) in 2021. The Scorecard was launched at PIDA Week on 2 March 2022.
Mr. Alex Simalabwi, Executive Secretary of Global Water Partnership Southern Africa-Africa Coordination, who is also the Director of the AIP-Technical Support Unit, that supported the formulation of the Zanzibar Investment Program, welcomed the support from the German Government, as its sets into motion an important milestone for Zanzibar and AIP implementation, as the funds will boost national development efforts towards closing the water investment gap in Zanzibar and enhance delivery of water services for social-economic development in Zanzibar. "This is an important step in the implementation of the AIP, whose objective is to close the water investment gap in Africa by mobilizing USD $ 30 billion annually by 2030. At present only USD $ 10 - $ 19 billion is invested annually," said Mr.Simalabwi.
The EURO 660 000 grant will give a big boost to efforts by the High-Level Panel of sitting and former Heads of State, which was formally launched on 25 March 2022, during the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, by His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union. The Panel was convened by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), United Nations Development Program, UNICEF, African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), African Development Bank (AfDB), Global Center of Adaptation (GCA), and Global Water Partnership (GWP), following a Convenor's Resolution signed on 12 August 2021.
The objective of the International High-Level Panel is to develop actionable pathways for mobilizing USD $ 30 billion annually until 2030, for implementing the AIP and closing the existing water investment gap in Africa. The panel will mobilize high-level political commitment and leadership at the international level to accelerate the achievement of 2030 SDG 6 water related targets and progress towards the 2025 Africa Water Vision for Water Security for All.
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