Assessing Water Resource Management in Africa

Established in 2004 and managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the AWF has implemented its activities across the continent through three strategic frameworks, the most recent covering the period 2017–2025. This strategy, updated in 2020 to improve operational efficiency and align efforts with the Africa Water Vision 2025, the strategic document published in 2000 by the African Ministers' Council on Water, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and the AfDB, seeks to improve the living conditions of both urban and rural communities by promoting sustainable water infrastructure and mobilizing resources. The strategy is built around four core priorities: project preparation, catalytic investments, investment promotion, and water governance.

In this context, an end-of-term evaluation has been launched to analyze the results achieved, identify challenges and opportunities, and provide concrete recommendations for the development of the new 2026–2030 strategy.

More details

Lattanzio KIBS focuses on assessing the design and relevance of the strategy, the effectiveness and efficiency of its implementation, the monitoring of results and achievement of objectives, as well as its impact and sustainability. The evaluation also includes identifying lessons learned and best practices that can inform future initiatives and organizational processes.

The methodology adopts a participatory approach to ensure strong ownership and to reinforce the relevance and credibility of the results. Data collection combines literature review, more than 30 interviews with key informants, SWOT analyses with AWF staff, and a specific case study on Water Master Plans. This is further enriched through online surveys of donors and field missions to Abidjan, at AWF headquarters.

The final phase involves drafting a detailed evaluation report and a summary presentation to facilitate the dissemination of findings.

Project Impact

The evaluation provides critical insights to guide the future strategies of the African Water Facility, enabling it to build on strengths and address identified challenges. The results support the consolidation of an increasingly integrated and sustainable approach to water resource management, enhancing the capacity of African institutions to attract investments and improve governance. The recommendations help the Facility set targeted priorities for the 2026–2030 period, with the aim of maximizing positive impacts on communities and supporting equitable and inclusive development across the continent.