The meeting brought together participants representing Austria, Canada, UN-Water, AMCOW (African Ministers' Council on Water), the African Development Bank, and the Facility.

During his welcoming remarks, the AfDB Water and Sanitation and AWF Director, Ali Kies,, eminded the participants of the importance of the meeting as the outcomes will enable the Facility to better strategize its operations and programmes.

Key topics discussed at the meeting included the importance of knowledge management and mechanisms for the AWF to generate and disseminate knowledge; the valuable role of the Bank as host of the Facility and the need for more emphasis on project quality at entry which will clearly respond to recipient needs and sector priorities. Others are: strengthening of project implementation and oversight; more emphasis on cross-cutting issues (i.e. gender, climate change); the need for more consultation with AMCOW, Governments, transboundary river organizations. The meeting also dwelt on the need for RECs (regional economic communities) to ensure that AWF interventions are aligned with regional as well as national priorities , in particular the African Union Heads of States Sharm el Sheikh Commitments; among other issues..

Many valuable comments and recommendations were made which will provide guidance to the consultant for completion of the report to be submitted to the AWF's Governing Council for consideration and approval before final submission to the Board.