The evidence base Riva was built on. Research and publications from our years as IRC.
Development of Water Investment Pipeline Projects for the Groundwater Access Facility in the Horn of Africa (GAFA)
Arjen Naafs
The Horn of Africa is entering a decisive period in its pursuit of water security. As climate
variability intensifies and surface water systems face growing pressure, the strategic
value of deep groundwater has never been clearer. Sustainable groundwater
development and management are now essential to safeguarding lives, strengthening
economies, and building long-term climate resilience across the region.
The Groundwater Access Facility (GAFA) was established to respond to this urgent
need. Since its launch in May 2024 in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, GAFA has convened
IGAD member states, UN agencies, and development partners to strengthen
coordination, improve data transparency, and accelerate groundwater investments.
This report—prepared in partnership with UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, FAO, NORCAP,
IGAD, and the governments of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda,
and Djibouti—presents the first consolidated groundwater investment pipeline for the
region. It identifies 64 projects valued at USD 3.05 billion, spanning drinking water
supply, sanitation, irrigation, livestock, industry, and ecosystem services.
The report goes well beyond project compilation. It demonstrates what regional
collaboration can deliver when combined with strong technical leadership and national
ownership. By applying rigorous technical, financial, social, and environmental
assessment criteria, it establishes a credible platform for future feasibility studies,
investment structuring, and resource mobilization. The accompanying GIS-enabled
dashboard—linked to IGAD’s Groundwater Information System (GWIS)—further
enhances the region’s capacity for evidence-based planning and monitoring.
The findings also highlight significant investment gaps. Groundwater financing remains
fragmented and predominantly reliant on public funding, with limited private sector
participation and scarce blended finance solutions. Project diversity is still emerging,
with many proposals focused on drinking water rather than agriculture, ecosystem
resilience, or transboundary cooperation.
Strengthening bankability and improving investor confidence remain critical to
unlocking larger scale and more diversified financing.
For donors, ministers, and technical partners, these gaps represent clear opportunities.
GAFA is uniquely positioned to serve as a broker between governments, development
partners, and financiers; to build national and regional capacity for project preparation;
and to expand the pipeline to include more innovative, climate resilient, and investment
ready groundwater projects. The Facility also provides a platform to align public,
private, and climate finance around a shared regional vision for groundwater resilience.
Dr. Zeynu Ummer
Director, UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa
In search of deeper leverage points: going beyond the technical to transform systems and lives
Angela Huston
Angela Huston joined IRC in 2016 and after seven and a half years of full commitment to the WASH sector, she moved to the role of IRC Associate. In this role, she supported IRC's CONNECT initiative.
Angela has a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from McGill University, completed in close collaboration with the IRC Uganda team. Angela is experienced in dialogue facilitation and inclusive multi-stakeholder methods. She values pragmatism and humour.
Angela speaks English, French, and Spanish, and is currently learning Italian and German.
Principles for water, sanitation and hygiene systems strengthening
Angela Huston
Angela Huston joined IRC in 2016 and after seven and a half years of full commitment to the WASH sector, she moved to the role of IRC Associate. In this role, she supported IRC's CONNECT initiative.
Angela has a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from McGill University, completed in close collaboration with the IRC Uganda team. Angela is experienced in dialogue facilitation and inclusive multi-stakeholder methods. She values pragmatism and humour.
Angela speaks English, French, and Spanish, and is currently learning Italian and German.
Hélene LeDeunff
Alejandro Jiménez
Accessing GCF funds for water security and climate-resilient water and sanitation
Stef Smits
Stef has worked with governments, NGOs, development banks and consultants across all areas of the international water sector: from analysing the lifetime costs of services and how they can be financed, to developing institutional arrangements and monitoring their effectiveness. He brings that analytical rigour to strategic advisory work, based on more than 25 years of experience across more than 25 countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia – turning research findings into practical decisions and investment strategies. In an organisation known for thought leadership, he builds the tools that enable others to put those ideas into action.
Over the past years, he has taken on a more internal management and leadership role, with responsibilities for business development and financial management. In 2026, Stef has become CEO of Riva The Netherlands.
He has an MSc in Irrigation and Water Engineering from Wageningen University, and is based in The Hague.
A few highlights
- 25 years of generating research, evidence and tools that have helped reshape how governments, INGOs and development banks across Latin America, Asia and Africa approach the life-cycle costing, financing and sustainability of water services and water resources management
- Director, IRC Netherlands (since 2024) – executive responsibility for a team of 30, leading business development and strategy across the Netherlands and Europe, and spearheading IRC's transition to a nationally-led network model
- Managing large-scale grant programmes including “Building sustainable WASH systems”(funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs) at 1.5 million Euro/year since 2017, and WASH Systems for Health Facility (funded by the FCDO of the UK Government), a £3 million knowledge programme across six countries, linking essential water and sanitation systems strengthening to health impacts
- Pioneer of the multiple-use water services concept – designing systems that serve domestic and productive water needs simultaneously
- Advisory work with the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, DGIS, Agence Française de Development as well as with international NGOs
- Served terms as Executive Steering Committee member, Rural Water Supply Network; Secretary, Multiple Use Services Group; Editorial Board, Water Alternatives journal
- Working languages: Dutch, English, Spanish and Portuguese