A proposed new US$50 million fund is seeking to boost the long-term sustainability of urban sanitation across Africa.

The AfDB’s African Water Facility wants to start offering loans to water sanitation projects in urban areas, and not only grants, according to Moneyweb.

“We plan to scale up,” said Mtchera Chirwa, the facility’s co-ordinator, adding that the new fund will begin to lend “for longer-term sustainability”.

He said the facility will raise the amount from the AfDB, donors and private investors.

The fund aims to improve sewerage systems in African cities, provide sanitation services to areas that are not connected to sewer lines and fund projects that collect waste for use as fertiliser or in biomass-based energy plants.

It is envisaged that rural water projects will still be funded through donor grants.

8 August 2023
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