African water initiative receives $12m grant

20 July 2011

A $12 million (£7.5 million) grant has been awarded to the African Water Facility (AWF) for the financing of several initiatives to boost water and sanitation services across the continent.

The AWF, which aims to attract and manage investments for water sector targets, will receive the money from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with the announcement being made at the AfricaSan 3 conference in Rwanda.

Poor water services in Africa's most fragile countries will be targeted for strategic interventions, including scalable and sustainable technologies for improved sanitation.

Bruno Jean-Richard, chair of the AWF's governing council, said the provision of sewerage facilities and similar investments are "often overlooked".

He remarked: "This is particularly crucial for the poor and vulnerable in the urban setting where rapid urbanisation is putting extra pressure on services."

Sub-Saharan Africa is likely to get most of the financial support, with various technologies expected to receive funding, such as faecal sludge-management models.

The AWF offers assistance to multinational and national organisations, as well as to communities. 

Category: Water