9AWW: Driving Sustainable WASH Investments in Africa

This session, hosted by FINISH Mondial, will explore innovative financing models to address the pressing need for increased investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Africa. With public funds insufficient to meet growing demand, this session will emphasize the role of the private sector and microfinance institutions (MFIs) in closing the WASH financing gap. Drawing on real-world success stories from Africa and Asia, participants will learn how blended finance models and microfinance have empowered households, entrepreneurs, and communities to invest in sustainable sanitation infrastructure. The session will also highlight challenges in attracting private investment, including perceived risks, lack of bankable projects, and coordination barriers. Through a multi-stakeholder approach, participants will explore solutions to overcome these challenges and scale up private sector involvement in the WASH sector to contribute to achieving Africa’s Agenda 2063 and SDG 6