The Continental Africa Water Investment Support Programme (AIP) is a continental support mechanism for specific priority water projects identified by African member states, focused on the integrated water-health-energy-food security nexus. It was adopted by African Union Heads of State and Government in February 2021 in Addis Ababa, under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa Priority Action Plan 2. The programme provides an enabling and project-preparation framework that helps member states and regional institutions prepare, finance and advance transboundary and regional projects. Its first phase covers Benin, Cameroon, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia, together with regional initiatives supported through institutions such as ECCAS and the SADC Water Fund, which is hosted by the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The sponsor is AUDA-NEPAD, working with the Regional Economic Communities and development partners.
AIP provides an enabling and project-preparation framework for priority transboundary and regional water investments submitted by African member states. It supports integrated water, health, energy and food-security projects; strengthens institutional arrangements; helps sponsors develop bankable projects; and links project pipelines to preparation facilities, public finance and private investment. The first phase identifies specific programmes in Benin, Cameroon, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia, together with regional initiatives supported through institutions such as ECCAS and the SADC Water Fund.
Accelerate the planning, preparation and financing of priority transboundary water projects; address institutional and financing bottlenecks that slowed earlier PIDA water projects; promote integrated corridor and water-health-energy-food approaches; improve investment accountability and coordination; mobilise climate-resilient water investment; and support employment, industrialisation, trade and regional integration.