ADDIS ABABA — The African Development Fund has approved a $9.3 million grant for an integrated water and agriculture project intended to strengthen climate resilience, improve access to safe water and increase food production in vulnerable communities in Ethiopia and South Sudan.
The financing, approved on 15 July 2026, will support the Climate Proof Water4Food project in Ethiopia’s Gambella Region and South Sudan’s Unity State. Both areas face severe climate risks, including flooding that disrupts farming, damages water systems and contributes to food insecurity and displacement.
The African Development Fund is the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank Group.
Water systems and flood management
The project will construct or rehabilitate seven solar-powered water-supply systems and introduce integrated flood-management measures. The Bank said the investments are expected to provide nearly 80,000 people with more reliable access to safe drinking water.
Improved water access is expected to reduce exposure to waterborne disease, support better hygiene and ease the time burden associated with collecting water. Project partners also expect more dependable water and sanitation services to support school attendance, particularly for girls.
Linking water security to food production
Rather than treating water, sanitation and agriculture as separate interventions, Climate Proof Water4Food combines climate-resilient water infrastructure with support for food production and rural livelihoods.
The programme is expected to help farming households improve agricultural output, household nutrition and income. It will also provide young people with practical skills intended to support employment and entrepreneurship in agriculture and related services.
Community institutions will receive support to manage water and agricultural services over the longer term, an important element in regions where weak maintenance arrangements can undermine infrastructure after construction.
A cross-border resilience model
The multinational project will promote shared technical standards, coordinated approaches and cross-border learning between Ethiopia and South Sudan. This reflects the fact that climate shocks, population movement and pressure on water resources do not stop at national borders.
Its significance will ultimately depend on whether the infrastructure remains operational, farming support reaches intended communities and the project can demonstrate measurable improvements in water access and food security. For now, the financing provides a framework for linking humanitarian vulnerability with longer-term investment in local resilience.
Sources and References
- African Development Bank: official project financing announcement
- African Development Bank: Climate Proof Water for Food project documents
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