The African Development Bank’s continuous investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, solar energy and afforestation on the African continent cannot be glossed over when we pay critical attention to the impacts it has sustained on the continent.

These efforts from the Bank (AfDB) has led to the winning of many prestigious awards and recognitions in Africa and the world. From investments in huge dams to water treatment plants, sanitation projects and Green energy, the AfDB has been simply phenomenal.

The latest among the lot, is the winning of the prominent Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, for having  financed and supervised water and sanitation project in Malawi which is now helping to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in that country.

Water for Rural Africa (WRA) wishes to acknowledge the African Development Bank for winning such an esteemed prize particularly for the difference it has made and continue to make in the lives of the people of Malawi at a challenging time like this.

As rightly stated by the President of the African Development Bank Group Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, “This prestigious award is especially relevant to current global efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need for enhanced hygiene practices”.

The Mzimba Integrated Urban Water and Sanitation Project which was co-financed by the African Development Bank with significant funding from the OPEC Fund was implemented by Malawi’s Northern Region Water Board.

Going forward, WRA is urging the African Development Bank to continue the tremendous works, but also hope that the Bank will equally consider expanding their scope to affecting lives in rural Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa by investing in small water projects including desalination facilities along the coastal belts of the eight regional blocks.