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Water Access Acceleration Fund (W2AF)


Innovative collaboration with the private sector is needed to achieve SDG 6. The Water Access Acceleration Fund (W2AF) is the first “impact first” private equity fund aiming at enhancing access to safe and affordable drinking water by investing in innovative water companies in developing countries primarily  in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. By providing an exchange rate currency risk absorption mechanism, Switzerland supports investments in least developed countries (LDCs) where the investment gap is the biggest and fosters its role as a provider of innovative finance in support of the SDGs. 

Land/Region Thema Periode Budget
Weltweit
Wasser
Beschäftigung & Wirtschaftsentwicklung
Wasserversorgung
Wasserhygiene
KMU Förderung
01.11.2024 - 31.10.2034
 CHF  4’892’500
Das Projekt in Kürze
Hintergrund Around 2  billion people  still  lack access  to safely managed  drinking  water and  3.6  billion  people have  no  access  to  safely  managed  sanitation. These  gaps  are  primarily  a  consequence  of shortcomings  in  terms  of  governance,  funding, distribution and sustainable management of water and  sanitation infrastructure.  Market-based  and sustainable  water  and  sanitation enterprises,  as well as innovative finance solutions, are inevitable to  significantly  accelerate  access  to  clean  water and sanitation  for  all. The  project will pool public and  private  finance  to  support  innovative  water companies  in  underserved markets  and  thus directly  benefit  48 mio.  clients  but  also  pave  the way for future investment funds in the water sector by proofing the concept.  
Ziele Increased  access  to  private  capital  for innovative  water  companies  in  developing countries,  thus  providing  equitable  and sustainable  water  services  at  scale  for  end users in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Lower-Middle-Income  countries  (LMICs) towards achieving SDG 6.  
Zielgruppen
  • Final beneficiaries: Low-income households in developing countries, primarily in Asia (South and South-East) and Sub-Saharan Africa. 
  • Intermediary beneficiaries: Innovative Water Enterprises serving the final beneficiaries.
  • Secondary beneficiaries: impact investors in the water space.  
Mittelfristige Wirkungen
  1. Better access to affordable drinkable water results in significant health benefits and savings -disproportionately favoring women and girls in rural segments, contributing to poverty alleviation, job creation and reduction in inequalities. 
  2. Innovative water companies and end-beneficiaries  consume less water resources and cleaner energy. 
  3. Increased investments in the water sector in the long-run, by demonstrating financial viability of water businesses. 
Resultate

Erwartete Resultate:  

  • Underserved low-income population segments have increased access to affordable drinkable water. 
  • At least 20% of W2AF investees operate in LDCs. 
  • Innovative water companies and end-beneficiaries become more efficient in water and energy management. 


Resultate von früheren Phasen:   Over  the  last  three  years,  E+E  has  used  its “investment credit” to provide de-risking  trough first-loss participations in two structured funds, i.e. the  BUILD Fund  (structured  fund  providing  debt financing  to  SMEs  mainly  in  LDCs), and N3F (structured fund providing debt financing to SMEs active  in  the nutrition  space  in  Sub-Saharan Africa).  Although these are long-term endeveors, such investment experiences have helped E+E to develop  selection  criteria  for  future  investments. Based on an internal call for proposals, a selection committee  back-stopped  by  an  external  expert have identified W2AF as the best proposal for 2024 in  terms  of  impact  potential  and mandate  fit  for SDC. 


Verantwortliche Direktion/Bundesamt DEZA
Projektpartner Vertragspartner
Privatsektor
  • Ausländischer Privatsektor Norden

Umsetzungspartner
Incofin

Koordination mit anderen Projekten und Akteuren
  • Social Water Entrepreneurship (Water Section) 
  • Portfolio of Impact-Linked Finance projects  
  • Portfolio of direct investment through SDC’s investment credit. 
Budget Laufende Phase Schweizer Beitrag CHF    4’892’500 Bereits ausgegebenes Schweizer Budget CHF    4’750’000 Budget der Organisation CHF   -1 Projekttotal seit Anfangsphase Schweizer Beitrag CHF   0 Budget inklusive Projektpartner CHF   4’892’500
  • Sektor nach Kategorisierung des Entwicklungshilfeekomitees der OECD WASSERVERSORGUNG & SIEDLUNGSHYGIENE
    WASSERVERSORGUNG & SIEDLUNGSHYGIENE
    INDUSTRIE
    Sub-Sektor nach Kategorisierung des Entwicklungshilfeekomitees der OECD
    Wassergrundversorgung
    Sanitärversorgung
    Förderung kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen (KMU)
    Querschnittsthemen Projekt unterstützt auch Verbesserungen in der Partnerorganisation
    Unterstützungsform Projekt- und Programmbeitrag
    Projektnummer

    7F11455

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Letzte Aktualisierung 08.11.2022