ImpactAlpha, March 14 — One-third of Africans lack access to clean drinking water; two-thirds lack access to basic sanitation services. Urbanization and climate change are straining already scarce water resources.
British International Investment, the U.K. development finance institution, and water infrastructure investor Metito Utilities are launching Africa Water Infrastructure Development to prove the commercial viability of water and sanitation projects on the continent.
AWID will build and finance climate-smart water and wastewater treatment plants. “Such projects are particularly capital intensive,” said Metito’s Rami Ghandour.
Water access
AWID’s first deal is the Kigali Bulk Water Supply plant in Rwanda, which provides one-quarter of the city’s potable water for 500,000 households and commercial and industrial customers. The water treatment plant is a public-private partnership between the Rwandan government and Kigali Water, backed by a $20 million loan from the African Development Bank.
