Mtchera Chirwa

Director, Water Development & Sanitation Department | African Development Bank Group

Mtchera Johannes CHIRWA Mr. Mtchera Johannes Chirwa is the Director of the Water Development and Sanitation Department at the African Development Bank (AfDB), a position he has held since March 2025. In this role, he leads the Bank’s support to Africa’s economic transformation by promoting integrated and sustainable solutions across the water and sanitation value chain. His responsibilities include ensuring alignment with the Bank’s strategic priorities and overseeing an investment portfolio exceeding USD 6 billion across more than 40 countries.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Chirwa served for over three years as Coordinator of the African Water Facility (AWF), a Special Fund established by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW). During this period, he led AWF’s operations across all regions of Africa, managing an active pipeline of more than 80 high-impact, climate-responsive projects. He successfully mobilized over USD 30 million in new donor financing and led the preparation of a portfolio of 25 projects valued at more than USD 40 million, with downstream investment potential exceeding USD 10 billion.

Mr. Chirwa brings over 30 years of development experience, including 18 years dedicated to the water sector at both national and international levels. He has worked in more than 20 countries, contributing to policy reforms, strategies, programs, and major water supply and sanitation initiatives. Throughout his career, he has led multidisciplinary teams and built high-level partnerships across the public and private sectors worldwide. Since joining the African Development Bank in 2008, he has held progressively senior roles, including Principal PPP Infrastructure Specialist and Chief Infrastructure and PPP Specialist.

Between 2017 and 2022, Mr. Chirwa played a central role in developing the Bank’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Strategic Framework. He also coordinated AfDB’s contributions to the first and second phases of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), overseeing portfolios with a total value exceeding USD 160 billion. In addition, he led the design of the NEPAD-IPPF 2021–2025 Strategic Business Plan and managed more than 30 special-fund projects, including major transboundary water resources initiatives.

Mr. Chirwa holds a Master’s degree in Construction Project Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified PPP Professional.