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[Special report] Water: Challenges related to universal access, health and the environment
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Approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide still live without safely managed drinking water. How can we improve access to water, combat waterborne diseases and better manage the consequences of floods and droughts? For World Water Day on 22 March, here is a selection of initiatives supported by Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
Report first published on 21 March 2024 and updated on 12 March 2026.
Ukraine: Reconstruction of water and sanitation services
This project funded by AFD supports the reconstruction of water and sanitation infrastructure in southeastern Ukraine. Implemented with several partners, it aims to restore access to safe drinking water and improve services for populations severely affected by displacement and network damage.
© AFD
Five inspiring techniques used in Africa against drought
Wastewater reuse, groundwater aquifer recharge, agroforestry... In Africa, a multitude of techniques are used to combat drought. They could be applied in other regions of the world.
© Mamoudou Kane / AFD
One Water Summit and UN Water Conference 2026
The One Water Summit, organized in late 2024, aimed to strengthen international political mobilization around water issues and prepare for the United Nations Water Conference in 2026. It highlighted the role of states, financial institutions and research in improving governance and financing of an essential but still insufficiently coordinated sector.
© Srishti Bhardwaj / AFD
Lebanon: For more reliable water service
In Lebanon, the Sepal project (Services d'eau potable améliorés au Liban) enabled the rehabilitation of water infrastructure and supply to more than 1.5 million people. Thanks notably to the installation of solar panels and modernization of pumping stations, the supply is more continuous and resilient in the face of economic crises and conflicts.
© Wissam Charaf / AFD
Mauritius: AFD supporting water for 40 years
Since the 1980s, AFD has supported Mauritius in improving access to drinking water, irrigation and sanitation. The projects support infrastructure modernization, water loss reduction and climate change adaptation.
© Fabien Dubessay / AFD
Sailing against the tide of waste: The ‘Plastic Odyssey’
The laboratory ship Plastic Odyssey stopped in the Indian Ocean as part of the ExPLOI project, funded by AFD and partners. The expedition brings together scientists, institutions and citizens to better understand marine plastic pollution, raise awareness, and promote local circular-economy solutions to reduce plastic waste in island environments.
© Rémy RAVON / YUMAN
