Hon. Pemmy Majodina, Minister of Water and Sanitation for South Africa, officially opened the workshop, calling for increased investments in water infrastructure across Africa, as well as increased recognition and attention to water in global processes.
“This training is a stepping stone to the Africa Water Investment Summit and the 2026 UN Water Conference. This will help us mobile water investments and ensure the water agenda is elevated,” she explained.
The guidelines will be used by the 15 AU member states to develop their national climate-resilient water investment programmes which among others will outline the countries’ pipeline projects, which they will showcase during the AU-AIP Water Investment Summit.
The official opening session was closed by Hon. Parks Tau, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition who pledged support for the water sector considering the anchoring function that water plays for all sectors.
“Water plays a critical role in the economic and development agenda of all nations, particularly in Africa. It is imperative therefore that other sectors, such as Industry and Trade, take a keen interest and support the water agenda at all critical platforms,” said Hon. Tau.
Africa faces significant challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) - ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Despite progress, over 300 million Africans still lack access to clean drinking water, and over 700 million live without access to good sanitation. The latest estimates suggest that the continent requires approximately USD 50 billion annually to achieve water security by 2030, yet current investments fall short at USD 10 - 19 billion per year. This investment gap threatens to derail aspirations for ensuring equitable and sustainable use of water for socioeconomic development in Africa, as referenced in the Africa Water Vision for 2025. Climate change exacerbates the situation, potentially leading to increased water scarcity, food insecurity, energy insecurity, and a rise in conflict.
The main barriers to investments in water include the significant funding gap between the required and actual investments; governance issues including inadequate water policies, regulations, and multi-sectoral strategies; limited implementation capacity and shortage of bankable projects; the insufficient focus on climate-resilient water infrastructure; and the relatively low private sector engagement in water projects.
To achieve climate resilience and inclusive water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa, the AUC is implementing the AIP & the GCF Readiness Support Initiative that seeks to strengthen capacities of Member States to prepare projects to access climate finance.
“The AUC with support from GWP Africa, has been implementing a Multi-Country GCF Readiness Support Project covering 15 Member States. This training is critical as the Guidelines is an important tool to support the development of climate resilient water investment programs and project pipelines,” said Harsen Nyambe, Director Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, AUC in his opening remarks.
Towards the 2026 UN Water Conference
Hon. Pemmy Majodina, Minister of Water and Sanitation for South Africa (2 from right),Hon. Parks Tau, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (2 from left), Mr. Alex Simalabwi, GWP Executive Secretary and CEO (far right) and Dr. Ahmed Khalid Eldaw Water, Climate Change, and Gender Policy Advisor - African Union Commission (far left) show the Mind the Gap, Invest in Water campaign sign during the opening session of the workshop.
The discussions and takeaways from the training workshop will guide the UAE, Senegal, and South Africa in identifying their priorities for the Africa Water Investment Summit, as a continental milestone towards the UN 2026 Conference.
Senegal which will co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference with the United Arab Emirates, urged participants of the training to use it as an opportunity to align efforts, share best practices, and forge partnerships that will drive transformative change.
“Water must be recognized as a central pillar of global development and climate action. We will work to ensure that water receives the attention it deserves in global processes, from the G20 and other multilateral platforms,” said Dr. Mohammed Diatta, Senegal, Sherpa, High Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa:
On its part, the UAE said the training supports the 2026 UN Water Conference objectives, including Strengthening International Commitment to SDG 6 by galvanizing political will & financial resources to accelerate progress toward achieving SDG 6. The 2026 UN Water Conference will help catalyze innovative solutions and strategic alliances by serving as a platform for fostering innovation and forging partnerships.
“Through co-hosting the 2026 UN Water Conference with Senegal, the UAE looks forward to working together with partners and stakeholders on turning commitments into implementation, to collectively deliver concrete actions in 2026 that accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6, and all SDGs, in Africa and beyond,” Ms. Shaima Gargash, Director of Energy and Sustainability, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kick-off for the 2025 Presidential Water Changemaker Awards in the context of the G20 Presidency of South Africa
The event also kicked off the 2025 Presidential Water Changemaker Awards, building on the 2023 awards in which six current and former Heads of State were awarded the Presidential Global Water Changemakers Award presented at the UN Water Conference in New York. The Presidential Water Changemaker Award is awarded to leaders who have demonstrated high-level political commitment and leadership for climate-resilient water security in Africa.
In 2023, the winners included four co-chairs of the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa; H.E Macky Sall, then President of the Republic of Senegal and Chair of the African Union, H.E Hage Geingob, then President of Namibia, H.E Mark Rutte, then Prime Minister of the Netherlands and H.E Jakaya Kikwete, Former President of the Republic of Tanzania. Others included H.E. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia and H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council who were awarded for local country leadership following the launch of the Zambia Water Investment Programme and the Zanzibar Water Investment Programme respectively.
This year, the Presidential Water Changemaker Award will be made at the end of the AU AIP Water Investment Summit in South Africa. The Water Changemaker Awards are a global initiative that aims to recognise high-level commitment and leadership for climate-resilient water investments and showcase the most promising climate-resilient innovations with the greatest potential for scale, replication, and further investment to support a water-secure world.
Scaling up the Africa Water Investment Programme to the global level
The workshop in Ethiopia also kicked off the development of the Global Water Investment Programme (GIP), building on the progress of the African Union’s Continental Africa Water Investment Programme.
Backed by an International High-Level Panel comprising current and former Heads of States and global leaders, the African Union’s AIP takes a multifaceted approach to transform the investment outlook for climate-resilient water security and sustainable sanitation across the African continent. In July 2023, the 8th UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, commended AIP’s transformative approach and called on global leaders and international organisations to scale up the AIP globally.
H.E. Ban Ki Moon, 8th UN Secretary General - UN, (left), H.E. Kikwete (right), Prof. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO - Global Center on Adaptation (far right), and Mr. Simalabwi (centre) during a meeting at the GCA Head office in Rotterdam, Kingdom of Netherlands.
“The GIP on water and climate resilience, to be launched later this year, will be developed as a new game-changing global initiative building on the successes and lessons of the AIP and similar initiatives. It will provide a platform for global partners and actors to strengthen collaboration, reduce fragmentation and promote joint coordinated action for mobilising investments at scale across regions for the achievement of water and climate-related targets of the SDGs and Paris Agreement,” explained Mr. Alex Simalabwi, GWP Executive Secretary and CEO, who will also serve as President of the Global Water Investment Programme. The GIP will be replicated across Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Europe.
As GWP supports preparations for the AU Water Investment Summit & the 2026 UN Water Conference, it has announced establishment of a High-Level Global Transformational Council and appointed H.E Jakaya Kikwete, Former President of the Republic of Tanzania, as founding co-chair.
“GWP’s Transformation Agenda includes strengthened financial sustainability through expanded partnerships with G20 countries and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). GWP will also launch the Global Water Investment Programme (GIP) on water and climate resilience to mobilise €500 million, which would leverage at least USD 15 billion by 2030,” explained Mr. Alex Simalabwi, ES & CEO, GWP.
Training on the AU Guidelines for Developing Climate Resilient Water Investment Programmes
Delivery of water investments across Africa is below target to meet the continent’s growing needs. It is estimated that at least USD 30 billion additional finance needs to be mobilised annually by 2030 to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6 target on water and sanitation. Currently, only USD 10 - 19 billion is invested each year.
The training in Addis Ababa was organised by the AUC in collaboration with Global Water Partnership Africa. It was financially supported by the EU Blue Africa Transboundary Water Management Programme funded by the European Union and Germany through GIZ; and the AU AIP Multi-Country GCF readiness support project, which aims to enhance the capacities of AU Member States for climate-resilient water investment planning and project preparation, enabling the development of national Climate-Resilient Water Investment Programmes.
“The Guidelines are an important tool that should drive investments in the water sector. The guidelines will be especially beneficial to drive policy coherence on national water investment programming which is crucial to ensure synergies and mutual benefits,” Mr. Sten Schurer, Technical Advisor, Blue Africa Action, GIZ.
“We are looking forward to the exciting events that lie ahead of us in the coming months and years. With PANAFCON, organised by our close partner AMCOW in Lusaka, the African Union Water Investment Summit, hosted by South Africa, the high-level meeting on the preparation of the 2026 UN Water Conference in Dakar and the UN Water Conference itself. We will have many opportunities to make the discussions we are having here count and converge with the other important processes. I want to thank all those that are working tirelessly to make these events happen and ensure that we collaborate on these most crucial issues,” he added.
The training brought together representatives from the offices of the GCF National Designated Authorities (NDAs), focal points from water ministries leading the development of Climate-Resilient Water Investment Programmes, and National Technical Coordinators from the 15 AU Member States participating in the first phase of the AU AIP Multi-Country GCF Readiness Project.
The sessions provided participants with a shared understanding of climate-resilient water investment programmes and their significance for national development. Additionally, the training introduced the AU Guidelines for the Development of National Climate-Resilient Water Investment Programmes and offered technical support to the 15 Member States in developing their roadmaps for implementation.