Vision to Action: Africa Shapes Its First Water Security Implementation Plan
Africa currently faces a significant annual funding gap of $35–38 billion for securing water and sanitation for its people. To address this, the continent has formally adopted the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy (AWVP63), which outlines a commitment to achieving a "water secure and resilient Africa with safe sanitation for all."
Africa needs an estimated $50 billion annually to achieve its water and sanitation goals but currently mobilises only $12–15 billion. Closing this gap is now a central priority for the AWVP63, which commits the continent to “a water secure and resilient Africa with safe sanitation for all.”
Following its endorsement by AMCOW Ministers in September 2025 and adoption by the African Union in February 2026, attention has shifted to developing the First Implementation Plan (2026–2033) to translate the vision into concrete actions, investments, and institutional commitments.
To ensure a comprehensive plan and regional ownership, AMCOW held consultations across all regions of Africa. These gatherings included Member States, regional organisations, basin institutions, development partners, UN agencies, and civil society. A common message emerged: The continent must act with urgency. Prof. Joseph Utsev, Nigeria's Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, emphasized that Africa is at "a defining moment in its water and development journey."
Financing remains critical. During the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, AMCOW and partners launched the African Water Facility Strategy 2026–2030 and secured high-level commitments to help close the continent's water financing gap.
With regional consultations completed and the development of the draft implementation plan advancing, the Africa Water Vision 2063 is moving from aspiration to action, laying the foundation for improved water security and sanitation for millions of Africans.
We are proud to support AMCOW and the African Union Commission through the EU-funded Blue Africa Action, implemented with support from the German Government under the Team Europe Initiative on Transboundary Water Management. As part of this partnership, we organised the consultation sessions on the Africa Water Vision in several African countries and provided technical support for AMCOW in developing the vision.
