The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided more than €1.2bn in financing for water investments in Egypt since 1989, supporting wastewater treatment, sanitation and water-quality improvement projects, EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti said on Sunday.
Speaking at the opening of Cairo Water Week 2026 on October 25, Vigliotti said the bank continues to support Egypt’s efforts to strengthen water security, improve wastewater management and protect communities from the growing effects of climate change.
“Water sustains communities, agriculture and industry. Protecting it means protecting public health, food security and livelihoods,” Vigliotti said, stressing the importance of integrated responses to water scarcity, pollution and rising sea levels.
The EIB’s portfolio in Egypt includes the Alexandria West Wastewater Treatment Plant project, which is expected to serve 1.5 million people, and the Helwan Wastewater Project, designed to benefit nearly 2.1 million people.
The bank is also supporting water-quality improvement initiatives in the Nile Delta, including the Kafr el Sheikh and Kitchener Drain schemes.
The Kafr el Sheikh scheme is expected to benefit nearly 400,000 people, while the Kitchener Drain scheme is projected to reach around 200,000 people through improved sanitation and better protection of local water resources.
Vigliotti highlighted the Kitchener Drain Programme as an example of an integrated approach to environmental infrastructure, bringing together wastewater treatment, solid waste management and drain rehabilitation to address multiple sources of pollution.
She said coordinated investments across interconnected infrastructure systems could deliver wider benefits for communities than projects focused on individual facilities.
The EIB vice-president also welcomed Egypt’s Nexus of Water, Food and Energy initiative, which seeks to address the interdependence of water security, food production and energy sustainability.
More efficient irrigation can support agricultural production, she said, while improved wastewater management can protect scarce water resources and sustainable energy solutions can contribute to stronger water security.
Global water financing
The bank’s support for Egypt forms part of a broader international financing effort. Through its Water Resilience Programme, the EIB Group aims to increase water financing to €15bn over 2025–2027, with the goal of mobilising up to €40bn in total investment worldwide.
Under its Water Forward initiative, the group has also pledged to help deliver water security for 300 million people by 2030, contributing to a wider global ambition to reach one billion people.
Vigliotti said the bank’s priorities include safe water and sanitation, resilience to droughts and floods, and innovation in areas such as smarter water networks and nature-based solutions.
She added that financing must be accompanied by effective project preparation, strong institutions, and the capacity to implement and maintain infrastructure.
The EIB therefore combines lending with advisory support and cooperation with Egyptian authorities, Team Europe and other development partners to bring together technical expertise, grants and financing.
Cairo Water Week provides an opportunity to strengthen this cooperation, exchange solutions and prepare future investments, Vigliotti said.
The bank stands ready to continue working with Egypt to build resilient water systems, protect livelihoods and ensure that investment benefits reach the communities that need them most.
