International Aid for Water Supply and Sanitation in Africa: China’s Spatial Strategies and Opportunities for Russia

Abstract

Access to clean water is a key priority in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Progress toward these goals relies on both domestic funding and international assistance. This study explores the spatial dynamics of financing water supply and sanitation projects funded by China’s public sector across Africa from 2000 to 2023. Using data from AidData’s Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset (version 3.0), the research analyses project funding volumes and their spatial distribution at the first-order administrative level. Applying central place theory, the study maps the spatial hierarchy and development of the project network. African countries are categorized into three groups—competition, division of spheres of influence, and cooperation—based on the potential for complementary project financing by multiple donors within the same country. The cooperation group, consisting of 12 countries, represents promising opportunities for Russia to initiate new water projects alongside current Chinese investments. The study also estimates the minimum funding required for each new project and its optimal administrative location. While additional factors may raise implementation costs, coordinated efforts between Russia and China could establish a novel model of international aid to address Africa’s water challenges.