Dutch Government Commits €25M to Water Projects in Senegal

Image: Luis Tosta on Unsplash

The Dutch government has committed €25 million in funding towards the Water Sector Fund – an initiative established by the Dutch government and the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support water and sanitation projects in developing countries.

Announced at the World Water Forum in Dakar, the funding will support the EIB in developing climate resilient water infrastructure, making water projects more sustainable and attracting additional funding from the private sector to ensure Sustainable Development Goal 6 – access to safe water and sanitation – is met.

Ambroise Fayolle, EIB’s Vice-President responsible for development and climate action, stated that “The Water Sector Fund has shown how technical expertise can enhance water investment to increase access to water in conflict zones, regions impacted by drought and fragile coastal communities. The EIB welcomes the EUR 25 million backing by the Dutch government to scale up the Water Sector Fund that will increase the impact of water investment to benefit fragile regions in the years ahead.” 

Since its launch in 2017, the Water Sector Fund has enabled the sharing of knowledge, innovation and experience through the provision of funding and technical assistance for water and sanitation projects. For instance, in Niger a project was designed to improve access to clean drinking water, in Malawi solar energy was used to improve water supply and in Sao Tome and Principe projects were aimed at better protecting coastal communities.

Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs of the Netherlands, added that, “Safe water and sanitation is essential for a healthy and dignified life and economic and social development. Sharing knowledge, experience and innovation is crucial to increase sustainable access to safe water, to protect people and infrastructure from flooding, and to address water scarcity.”