An additional $30 billion per year must be invested in water and sanitation in Africa by 2030 to meet the growing social and economic demands of its population, the African Union (AU) has recommended.
In a concept note issued on Wednesday in connection to the African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit being held in Cape Town, South Africa, the AU said investments in Africa’s water sector are well below the requirements of the continent.
The AU said investment in water and sanitation is linked to achieving most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), creating a prosperous and equal society, and securing a climate-resilient future.
“Climate-resilient water security is synonymous with the theme of solidarity, equality and sustainability, as it forms the foundation of joint prosperity, inclusive growth, and sustainability,” it said.
The pan African bloc said that more than half of African countries, sub-optimal governance arrangements sustain the low implementation of coordinated approaches to water management, development, and sanitation services.
In September 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, African leaders together with the African Union Commission and the High-Level Panel, formally launched the Mind the Gap – Invest in Water campaign.
The campaign aims to raise awareness, influence change, and ultimately – prompt the strategic transformation that can result in the mobilisation of increased investments towards climate-resilient water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa.
The AU said 71 percent of African countries have inadequate capacity and information flow for the effective implementation of integrated water resources management.
The summit is expected to urge African countries to mobilise new funding and support the achievement of South Africa’s G20 priorities of rapid and inclusive economic growth, eradicate poverty and hunger by accelerating investments into climate-resilient water and sanitation.
MG/as/APA