Unlocking Africa’s Water Future: Why Blended WASH Financing is the Key to SDG 6

Bridging the massive WASH funding gap across the continent requires moving beyond traditional grant models toward scalable, blended financial mechanisms. This week we spent time in Kigali, Rwanda unpacking this. One of the Key hights was The "WASH Financing: Mobilizing Public, Private and Development Finance to Achieve SDG 6 in Africa." Side event hosted by World Vision which preasented a clear picture on how  traditional funding alone will not get us to SDG 6. To achieve sustainable, universal coverage by 2030, we must urgently mobilize and blend at least three distinct streams of capital—Public, Private, and Development Finance.

To achieve sustainable, universal coverage to Water, Saniattion and Hygiene services by 2030, we must urgently mobilize and blend at least three distinct streams of capital—Public, Private, and Development Finance.

1. Public Finance: The Anchor of Equity and Policy

National governments and public utilities like WASAC in Rwanda provide the core regulatory frameworks, subsidies for vulnerable populations, and primary infrastructure investment. Public finance ensures that water remains a fundamental human right and that marginalized communities are not left behind.

2. Private Capital: Driving Scale and Efficiency

The private sector, including commercial banks like Equity Bank and microfinance institutions like VisionFund—holds the key to unlocking capital at scale. From micro-loans for household water connections and sanitation facilities to commercial debt for rural water schemes, private finance transforms WASH projects into viable, revenue-generating investments, that facilitate transformation from community-based projects to service provision.

3. Development Finance: De-risking and Catalyzing Innovation

Development partners and international financial institutions play a critical role in providing concessionary loans, first-loss capital, and technical assistance. By lowering the risk profile of WASH investments, development finance bridges the gap between public service mandates and commercial bankability.

Lessons from Rwanda 

World Vision Rwanda’s WASH financing model provides a compelling blueprint. By combining household-level financial products with utility capacity building and community-based management, we demonstrate that sustainability is possible and achievable when financial systems match operational reality.

To replicate and scale these successes across Africa, we must:

• Strengthen governance and financial management within service providers to make them bankable.
• Expand blended finance mechanisms that mitigate risks for private lenders.
• Integrate climate-resilient design into every WASH infrastructure project to protect long-term assets.

Water is not merely a social requirement; it is the economic engine of health, education, gender equality, and climate resilience. By aligning public intent, private capital, and development expertise, we can ensure that every child and community across Africa gains access to safe, sustainable water and sanitation.

By Fungai Sexton. Makoni

Senior Director, Global WASH Operations