• Some foreign companies announced the launch of their new company Africa Water Infrastructure Development.

• The launch took place at the British embassy in Cairo.

• They will demonstrate a viable commercial model for water infrastructure and provision in Africa, helping to mobilize long-term investment into the sector.

Water insecurity is one of the challenges Africans face, the water insecurity also leads to food crises. Climate change is expected to reduce water availability and increase the extent of water scarcity, increasing existing water-related vulnerabilities caused by other socio-economic factors. Having the quality of water deteriorating is also a major threat among communities throughout Africa as most wastewater generated remains untreated. 

Climate-induced changes in the water cycle are impacting the provision of water supply to health, economies, and food, and increasing inequality of water access. 2 COP27 recognized the interdependencies of the water-food-energy nexus, and the implications of climate change, calling for scaled-up investments in water solutions to mitigate, adapt, and increase resilience to the adverse effects of climate change in Africa.

Metito Utilities Limited (MUL), a global investor and operator of water, wastewater, and alternative energy management solutions, and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, announced the launch of their new company Africa Water Infrastructure Development “AWID”, a first-of-its-kind platform to develop climate-smart water projects at scale and to increase water security across Africa.  

The official launch of AWID took place at the British Embassy in Cairo, and was hosted by the British Ambassador, Gareth Bayley; MD, and Head of Africa for BII, Chris Chijiutomi, and Metito MD, Rami Ghandour. In attendance were key business leaders in Egypt and from across Africa as well as leading government officials.

The mission of the new platform, AWID, will be to finance water and wastewater management treatment plants as well as develop and construct world-class facilities that will help to increase access to sustainable, safe and reliable water with a clear focus on countries that are most vulnerable to the climate crisis.

They will demonstrate a viable commercial model for water infrastructure and provision in Africa, helping to mobilize long-term investment into the sector. Its investments will integrate green technologies and alternative energy components, which will help to reduce the environmental footprint of water infrastructure projects.

An operational bulk surface water treatment plant in Kigali-Rwanda forms the first asset under the new platform. The 40,000 cubic meters per day plant is currently providing over 25 percent of the city’s potable water supply, meeting the needs of 500,000 domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers. The Kigali water treatment plant is a public-private partnership (PPP), which is the first of its type under this business model in sub-Saharan Africa (outside of South Africa).

Commenting on the launch, Morgan Landy, Global Director for Infrastructure at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) said: “Investing in water infrastructure is a strategic priority for IFC in Africa and we are working with the private sector to close the funding gap in this critical sector. As a long-standing Metito shareholder, IFC is proud to witness the launch of this new Africa-focused platform that will invest in climate-smart water projects, further promoting economic growth and building a more water-secure Africa.”

AWID will help to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Goals (SDG 3) on Good Health and Well-being, (SDG 5) on Gender Equality, (SDG 6) on Clean Water and Sanitation, and (SG13) on Climate Action.