Development banks: $19.6bn invested in water-related projects in 2024
Ten multilateral development banks have approved global financing of $19.6bn for water-related projects in 2024, mainly aimed at low- and middle-income countries, according to a recent joint report.
| Countries | Bénin, Chypre, Espagne, Mongolie |
|---|---|
| Companies | Banque européenne d'investissement, Banque africaine de développement, Banque Mondiale |
| Sector | Réseaux chaleur, Enjeux Énergétiques, Réseau chaleur |
| Theme | Investissements & Transactions, Financement, Développement de projets |
Ten multilateral development banks (MDBs) active in the water sector approved global investments totalling $19.6bn (€17bn) in 2024, according to their joint report published on the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville.
Allocation of funding and institutions involved
The joint annual report titled “Water Security Financing Report”, released for the first time in 2025, specifies that nearly three-quarters of the financing approved in 2024 is allocated to low-, lower-middle-, and upper-middle-income countries.
Participating institutions include the African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), New Development Bank (NDB), World Bank, and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).
EIB accounts for a quarter of the funding
The European Investment Bank accounted for more than a quarter of total funds committed by multilateral banks in 2024 in the water sector, the report notes.
This significant commitment is part of EIB’s new programme called the “Water Resilience Programme”. This programme aims to increase the institution’s lending in the water sector by 50% between 2025 and 2027, reaching a total amount of €15bn, with an estimated catalytic potential of €40bn in additional investments during the same period.
Major international collaborative projects
Among the concrete examples mentioned in the report, EIB is working in partnership with the African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, World Bank, and the West African Development Bank (BOAD) to enhance drainage infrastructure in Cotonou, Benin. The project involves improving drainage across 34 basins to mitigate flood risks in the region.
In Mongolia, EIB collaborates with the Asian Development Bank to build wastewater treatment plants and strengthen stormwater drainage systems in several cities. In Cyprus, EIB has maintained a 20-year partnership with the Council of Europe Development Bank to co-finance construction and renovation work on municipal drinking water and sanitation networks.
EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle stated at the report’s publication: “Creating sustainable water systems worldwide requires financing but also partnerships combining investment, technical assistance, and knowledge”.
