Africa’s Water access is a critical priority, with AUDA-NEPAD advocating for a Presidential Champion to accelerate universal water availability across the continent by 2030.
Africa’s Water Crisis: Scale and Urgency
Africa faces one of the most significant water challenges in the world. Over 300 million people on the continent lack access to safe drinking water, and approximately 700 million do not have adequate sanitation facilities. This is not only a public health concern but also a critical barrier to economic growth, social development, and gender equality. Without immediate and coordinated action, these gaps are likely to widen further, exacerbating poverty and limiting the continent’s development potential.
The financial implications of the water crisis are substantial. Africa requires an estimated $50 billion per year to achieve water security goals by 2030. Current investments, however, range only between $10 billion and $19 billion annually. This shortfall translates into economic losses estimated at $200 billion per year, driven by climate impacts, inefficiencies, and inadequate infrastructure. Clearly, addressing Africa’s water challenges is not just a humanitarian necessity it is an economic imperative.
H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, emphasized that water should be treated as “critical economic infrastructure,” highlighting that the conversation around water is intrinsically linked to sovereignty, dignity, and the continent’s economic survival.
Rethinking Africa’s Water as Economic Infrastructure
Historically, Africa’s Water has been approached primarily as a social service. While providing water for basic needs is vital, Bekele-Thomas argues that the continent must shift its perspective and treat water as a core component of economic planning.
Recent examples underscore this reality. In 2024, Zambia’s Kariba Dam fell to just 2.34% of usable storage, causing widespread power blackouts. The interruptions affected mining operations, industrial activity, and overall economic productivity. Similarly, Lake Chad has experienced a 90% reduction in surface area since the 1960s, severely impacting livelihoods and regional economies in the Sahel.
Bekele-Thomas proposes integrating water management into regional value chains, linking transboundary river basins with energy corridors and agro-industrial zones. She stresses that investing in water infrastructure is not optional it is a prerequisite for Africa’s industrialization and long-term economic resilience.
Building Bankable and Sustainable Solutions
A key challenge in tackling Africa’s water crisis lies in translating commitments into financially viable projects. While funding exists, there is often a gap between available liquidity and projects that are truly bankable. AUDA-NEPAD has actively addressed this by developing a pipeline of 80 water and sanitation projects across 38 countries, valued at $32 billion.
Examples of these projects include:
- Lake Victoria Mediterranean Sea Navigational Line (VICMED), led by Egypt
- Lesotho-Botswana Water Project
- Angololo Water Resources Development Project spanning Kenya and Uganda
- Noordoewer Vioolsdrift Dam Project connecting Namibia and South Africa
These initiatives are designed not just to provide Africa’s Water but to create measurable economic and social impact. Bekele-Thomas emphasizes that these are “concrete, impact-oriented pipelines” that require urgent translation into operational infrastructure.
Systemic Change for Universal Access
Beyond individual projects, AUDA-NEPAD advocates systemic reforms to achieve universal Africa’s Water access. This includes operationalizing performance-based grant schemes to attract private capital, expanding digital monitoring systems, and deepening utility reforms.
Accountability is central to these reforms. Tools like the AIP Water Investment Scorecard help track progress, ensuring that commitments lead to real outcomes rather than remaining aspirational goals. The aim is to establish sustainable systems that can adapt to climate change, population growth, and economic pressures while guaranteeing reliable water access for all citizens.
The Role of a Presidential Champion
To accelerate progress, Bekele-Thomas proposed appointing a Presidential Champion for Affordable, Reliable, and Accelerated WASH Access in Africa. This champion would work within the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative framework to ensure high-level political engagement, advocacy, and peer accountability across sectors such as health, education, finance, and water.
The concept is simple but powerful: previous ministerial commitments, while well-intentioned, have often failed to deliver systemic results. A top-level Presidential Champion would bridge gaps between policy and action, ensuring that investment commitments translate into tangible benefits for African communities.
The timing is strategic. With 2026 designated as the African Union Year of Water and Sanitation, the appointment of a Presidential Champion presents a historic opportunity to transform policy into action, setting the continent on a path to achieve universal water access by 2030.
Linking Africa’s Water Access to Broader Development Goals
Water access is not isolated from Africa’s broader development agenda. Reliable water supply impacts education by reducing school absenteeism, particularly for girls, who often bear the burden of fetching water. It supports economic growth by stabilizing agriculture, industrial production, and energy generation. Additionally, it promotes public health, reducing the prevalence of waterborne diseases and improving life expectancy.
By framing water as critical infrastructure, Africa can leverage it as a driver of multiple development goals simultaneously. This requires innovative financing, strong governance, and integrated planning across sectors a challenge AUDA-NEPAD is uniquely positioned to coordinate.
Climate Change and Water Security
Climate change intensifies Africa’s water challenges. Increasingly frequent droughts, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures threaten both water availability and quality. Regions that were once water-secure now face scarcity, affecting agriculture, energy production, and urban water systems.
Bekele-Thomas highlighted that water projects must incorporate climate resilience to be effective in the long term. This includes investing in drought-resistant infrastructure, efficient irrigation systems, and cross-border water management strategies. By doing so, Africa can reduce vulnerability to climate shocks while promoting sustainable economic development.
Financing Africa’s Water Future
Financing remains a central issue. While Africa faces a $50 billion annual funding gap, AUDA-NEPAD’s focus on bankable projects offers a pathway to attract private and international investment. Public-private partnerships, blended financing, and regional collaboration can mobilize resources efficiently, ensuring that every dollar contributes to measurable outcomes.
Effective financing strategies also require robust monitoring, transparency, and risk management. AUDA-NEPAD emphasizes these principles to create investor confidence and ensure that water projects are not only built but maintained sustainably.
Conclusion
The call for a Presidential Champion for Water Access in Africa represents a strategic shift in the continent’s approach to water governance. By treating water as critical economic infrastructure, prioritizing bankable projects, and fostering systemic reforms, Africa can accelerate progress toward universal water access by 2030.
The AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit serves as a vital platform to align continental strategies and commitments. With the right political leadership and investment frameworks, Africa has an opportunity to transform its water crisis into a catalyst for growth, resilience, and social equity.
For more insights on global water initiatives and investment strategies, visit AUDA-NEPAD.