More than US$10 billion in water investment commitments were secured at last week’s inaugural African Union-Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Investment Summit held in South Africa.
South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina announced the commitments on Monday, noting that 80 priority water and sanitation projects from 38 countries had attracted an estimated projection of US$10 billion to US$12 billion a year worth of investments during the summit held from 13-15 August in Cape Town.
“We have also managed to showcase a pipeline of bankable water and sanitation projects to prospective funders and investors,” Majodina said in a statement.
The summit, opened by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, marked a major milestone in efforts to close Africa’s $30 billion annual water investment gap.
The summit convened 1,690 delegates, including heads of state, ministers, development partners and private investors under the auspices of the AU, the High-Level Panel on Water Investment for Africa and South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
It aligned with G20 priorities of inclusive growth, climate resilience and poverty eradication.
Majodina noted the need to address governance, financing, capacity and data gaps in the water sector, calling on governments to streamline regulatory processes and eliminate red tape that deters investment.
AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Moses Vilakati described the summit as a “platform for transformation and a proof to Africa’s leadership in climate-resilient water security and safe sanitation.”
“We came together with a shared mission: to close Africa’s $30 billion annual water investment gap, and we leave with renewed momentum, concrete commitments, and a bold vision for the future,” Vilakati said.
He confirmed that the AU has declared water as the theme for 2026 ahead of the UN Water Conference to be hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates.
The summit builds on momentum from COP28 in Dubai where the AU and AIP High-Level Panel launched the Africa Water Investment Action Plan to mobilise the additional $30 billion annually needed to meet the continent’s growing water and sanitation demands.
JN/APA