World Bank Calls for Investment in Water Infrastructure

The World Bank marked World Water Day March 22 by calling for increased investments from private and public sources in order to enhance water security in developing countries, which are projected to suffer the most because of water scarcity. It is estimated that 4 billion people – one half of the world’s population – will live under conditions of severe water stress in 2025, with conditions particularly severe in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Current investment in new water infrastructure in developing and emerging economies is roughly $80 billion per year. In order to spur economic growth and create water security, investment will have to more than double over the next 20 – 25 years, to around $180 billion per year. The World Bank is the largest external financier in the water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector in developing countries. Its current WSS project portfolio is nearly $7 billion.