From Fragmentation to Alignment: Stakeholder Roles in Delivering Bankable Water Infrastructure in Africa

Water infrastructure represents a fundamental aspect of Africa's Sustainable Development Goals, though ongoing fragmentation across Governance, Policy and Financing Systems is inhibiting the creation of bankable and resilient projects. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 93 peer-reviewed articles published from 2000-2026 to understand how stakeholder roles, stakeholder alignment, and institutional arrangements affect the Bankable Status of Water Infrastructure in Africa. Based on the PRISMA Framework the Review identifies three important Factors leading to Fragmentation – Institutional Fragmentation, Policy Fragmentation, and Capacity Fragmentation – that collectively limit the effective Design, Finance, and Sustaining of Water Infrastructure Projects. Moreover, findings show that Institutional Fragmentation is still the largest barrier to overarching Sectoral Coherence; Policy Misalignment between the National and Regional Level creates inconsistency in regulatory environments and restricts the amount of Technical & Financial Capacity available to prepare viable Bankable Water Infrastructure Projects. In contrast, pathways such as Institutional Reform, creating Stakeholder Coordination Platforms, creating; Blended Financing Mechanisms, and Digital Data Systems to provide Technical Capacity Development for all Water Projects in Africa enhance the alignment and create the conditions for the Bankable Status of Water Infrastructure Projects in the Future. The study concludes that addressing fragmentation requires integrated, multi-stakeholder governance frameworks supported by innovative financing instruments and transparent policy systems. Alignment between governments, private investors, development partners, and local communities is crucial to de-risk investments, enhance project credibility, and promote inclusive water infrastructure development. Ultimately, achieving bankable water infrastructure in Africa depends on transforming fragmented governance landscapes into cohesive ecosystems that prioritize collaboration, accountability, and long-term financial sustainability.