By Henry Neondo, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ON second day of the 12th Session of the African Forum for Sustainable Development held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, African leaders and development partners called for a fundamental shift in how water is valued and managed across the continent, warning that water insecurity poses a systemic risk to economic growth, public health, and social stability.
At a high-level meeting convened by the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, participants emphasized that water must be treated as critical economic infrastructure—on par with energy, transport, and digital systems—to drive sustainable development and achieve global targets under the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
Since 2015, Africa has made notable gains, with over 300 million people gaining access to basic drinking water and 190 million to basic sanitation.
However, these gains mask deeper challenges, as only 40 percent of Africans have access to safely managed drinking water and just 30 percent to safely managed sanitation.
Experts at the meeting underscored that weak water and sanitation systems continue to strain health services, undermine education outcomes, and slow economic transformation.
Rapid urbanization is further compounding the crisis, with cities expanding faster than water infrastructure, exposing millions to health risks and economic vulnerability. As one speaker noted, water insecurity is no longer a sectoral issue but a systemic risk affecting food systems, energy production, industrialization, and regional integration.
A major concern raised was the vast financing gap in the water sector. Africa requires an estimated $64 billion annually to achieve water security and universal sanitation, yet current investments fall far short, leaving a gap of roughly $30 billion each year.
Participants called for urgent action to mobilize resources through domestic financing, blended finance mechanisms, and innovative tools such as green and blue bonds. Strengthening project preparation and attracting private sector investment were also highlighted as key priorities.
The African Development Bank, which has invested billions in water infrastructure over the past decade, stressed the need to scale up efforts while improving governance, regulatory frameworks, and the creditworthiness of water utilities.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of the Africa Water Vision 2063, which positions water as a driver of transformation, resilience, and peace across the continent. Plans are underway to develop its first 10-year implementation framework for the period 2026 to 2033, aligning with the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference.
Participants stressed that achieving these ambitions will require integrating water into national energy strategies, industrial policies, and climate action plans, while promoting climate-resilient and circular water solutions such as wastewater reuse and nature-based approaches.
They also emphasized the importance of expanding peer-to-peer learning among African countries to scale proven water and sanitation models and accelerating the transition from policy commitments to coordinated, large-scale implementation supported by strong institutions and modern digital tools.