Abidjan:Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, in his capacity as chairman of the African Water Facility (AWF) Governing Council, has arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to preside over the council's 26th meeting. The meeting, taking place from November 4-5, aims to discuss enhancing the AWF's role in mobilizing investment for Africa's water sector and reviewing the implementation of its 2026-2030 strategy.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Sewilam emphasized the increasing water challenges Africa faces due to population growth and climate change. He stressed the urgency of accelerating investment and transforming Africa's Water Vision 2063 into concrete projects.

During his address, Sewilam underscored the AWF's critical role in project preparation, enabling them to attract necessary financing for implementation. Since its inception, the facility has supported 153 projects across 54 African countries with grants totaling approximately €240 million, facilitating the mobilization of $4.19 billion in investments. These efforts have improved access to drinking water for over 50 million people and sanitation services for more than 22 million people.

The minister also noted Egypt's contributions during its 2025–2026 chairmanship of the Governing Council. These include issuing a joint appeal with the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) urging African governments to contribute to the AWF's funding, further solidifying the facility's impact on the continent's water sector.