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The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) is holding a three-day workshop in Harare to promote the effective management of the continent’s water resources and provision of water supply services.
In his address during the first day of the workshop today, Engineer Tinayeshe Mutazu, the Chief Director of Water Resources, Irrigation Development, and National WASHP Coordination in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development said the workshop shows commitment to advancing water resource management and development in Southern Africa and typifies the spirit of cooperation and leadership that defines AMCOW.
“As we embark therefore on these important discussions over the next few days, let us remain focused on the themes that unite us, as these are not only cornerstones of our agenda but also critical imperatives for achieving sustainable development, goal number six in particular, which seeks to ensure clean water and sanitation for all.
“And of course, this very cross-cutting goal contributes to the broader objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Africa we want. Fellow delegates, water resources are a foundation for sustainable development across the continent, touching every sector from energy to water to agriculture to health to industry, mining, and the like. Yet the challenges of climate change, challenges of pollution, inadequate infrastructure, and social inequalities demand urgent and coordinated action. It is our firm belief that the conversations and deliberations of this meeting will be pivotal in shaping solutions that will align not just with the African vision, but the world vision insofar as water security and inclusive growth are concerned,” Eng Mutazu said.
Zimbabwe has embarked on a very ambitious programme that seeks to drill a borehole in 35,000 villages, and at every school where 9,600 schools are standing to benefit from that service.
The workshop seeks to explore solutions to come up with a policy direction that best defines water resources development, management, and planning in Africa and beyond.
Delegates are expected to build strong partnerships and share best practices, challenges, and opportunities in the water sector. The outcomes of the meeting will significantly contribute to shaping policies, governance structures, and programmes that are transformative for the sub-region and the continent at large.
Dr. Rashid Mbaziira, the Executive Secretary of AMCOW said in the year 2000, stakeholders agreed on an Africa Water Vision that by 2025, there would be equitable utilization of water resources for socio-economic development, poverty alleviation, regional integration, and environment.
He said that over the years, member states have undertaken several interventions that have resulted in many achievements, but in much the same way, they have faced a plethora of challenges.
In 2022, AMCOW commenced an eight-step process to be able to take stock of those achievements and what lessons can be drawn from the journey up to this point.
That process culminated in what was discussed at the ninth Africa Water Week, where stakeholders agreed on the situation analysis that indicates that by and large, Africa faced significant challenges in achieving the targets of what was set out in 2000 to be achieved.
“We also agreed on the baseline of where we can achieve the targets that we set out in 2000 to achieve by this period. We can now begin to conceptualize the water and sanitation agenda and policy framework that will ensure water security and climate resilience beyond 2025. A key point in this process is to take the information that we’ve gathered from the member states, but then go back to them and interrogate them further,
taking particular cognizance of the regional nuances to be able to propose something different to get us to that goal that we are pursuing and eventually actualize the vision of Africa where our water resources contribute to our aspirations for growth and development,” Dr. Mbaziira said.
There were similar consultations for Eastern Africa and West Africa. This will be followed by engagements with counterparts in Central Africa and Northern Africa.
“What will come out of your contributions, together with the research and review of existing information that is contributed to by our body of experts that are the reference group members and also the technical group that are the sharpers, we shall then put this together into the initial draft of what we envision as the agenda for water to contribute to the goals of Agenda 2063. And this is what we shall present to you in the period 27th to 29th of May in Lusaka, Zambia, at what is referred to as the African Partnerships and Implementation Conference on Water, the third edition of that,” he added.
The AMCOW Executive Secretary said achieving the goals on water and sanitation for Africa is contributed to by other parties, including development partners. He said attracting the private sector contributes to the realization of those goals. There are coordinating institutions that provide the institution with policy direction and advocacy on matters to consider.
In October this year, there will be a General Assembly of the Ministers responsible for Water Affairs who meet for their consideration. AMCOW anticipates adoption in readiness for elevating this to the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
“The goal here is for us to come up with a policy document that will stand the test of time and is aligned with the goals of Agenda 2063 and,
more importantly, becomes an implementation framework of Agenda 2063 in the area of environmental security and water security. So the task before us as the member states and partners and stakeholders of the Southern Africa region is enormous for us to do a visioning exercise that reflects our shared interests as a region but also the aspirations that we need to be able to influence, to utilize, to influence the eventual vision and policy document of the continent.”
Dr. Ahmed Mohamed, the African Union Commission (AUC)’s Water and Climate Policy Advisor said he was hopeful that the consultations would contribute to the development of the Africa Water Vision and Policy which provides a strategic framework and direction toward achieving Africa’s climate-resilient water security and sanitation for all.
“We are grateful to the people and government of the Republic of Zimbabwe for their hosting of this important consultation meeting, which is on the post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy Formulations. We are grateful to those who supported this journey of development of this framework,
the member states, AMCOW secretariat, colleagues, and development partners, just to mention a few.
“It is imperative to mention that the process and approach followed in the development of the Africa Water Vision and Policy post-2025 is participatory and consultative in the context of the various decisions and declarations of the African leaders, the Africa Agenda 2063, and the lesson learned and emerging issues during implementation of the Africa Water Vision 2025,” Dr Mohamed said.
He emphasised the importance of SDGs, Paris Agreement on Climate, and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It has emerged that 90% of the disasters are water-related. However, it was reported that there is a huge gap in Africa’s water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. More than 400 million people in Africa have no access to clean water, 700 million or more have no access to sanitation, and also about 800 million have no access to hygiene.
“And also more than 200 million, I think, using open edification. So I think the challenge is huge, and also the gap is huge. An indication is that the efforts being made so far, and we are not here in a blame game, all of us I think need to work together, are not adequate when it is compared to the huge gap we have on the continent. Against this backdrop, AMCOW has raised water as a key priority for our continent’s social and economic development. This is underpinned by the African Union’s adoption of the theme of the year 2026 on water and sanitation, and the development of the post-Africa Water Vision and Policy.”
In a speech delivered by Cecil Dulu Nundwe (Principal Water Resources Management Officer (AWF)) on behalf of Mr. Mtchera Johannes Chirwa, Director of Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) said about 24 years ago, the African Development Bank (AfDB) proudly partnered with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to spearhead the development of the Africa Water Vision 2025 (AWV 2025).
“This vision has served as a guiding light for our efforts in the water sector for over two decades. Beyond being a champion for the AWV 2025, the African Development Bank demonstrated its unwavering commitment by accepting to host three specialized institutions that were instrumental in supporting its implementation. I am referring to the African Water Facility, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI), and the Multi-Donor Water Partnership Program (MDWPP).
“While these three entities have since been consolidated into the African Water Facility, the AfDB continues to proudly host the AWF to this very day, recognizing its vital role in mobilizing resources and fostering innovative solutions for the sector,” he said.
The AfDB commitment extends far beyond policy formulation and institutional support. The African Development Bank has consistently been a premier financing institution for Africa’s water sector. Since the launch of the AWV 2025 in the year 2000, the Bank has remained a strong and reliable partner, actively supporting the development of critical water infrastructure across the African continent.
“I am proud to share that Over the last decade 2014-2024, the Bank invested over US$8 billion in the water sector in 40+ African countries. As of today, we have an active portfolio in the sector worth about US$ 6 billion, distributed across 121 projects. These investments have Improved the lives of over 92+ million people over the last decade, providing access to safe water and improved sanitation. When we consider the financing provided for other water-related sectors such as irrigation and hydropower, the overall impact of the Bank’s contribution becomes even more significant.
“Furthermore, the African Development Bank has consistently played a leading role in supporting policy development processes on the continent. We have actively facilitated the participation of the African continent in key global water fora and international gatherings, including the World Water Forums and the UN Water Conference. Closer to home, the Bank has been a strong supporter of policy and practices dialogue processes through platforms such as the African Water Week and the AfricaSan conferences. These platforms are crucial for fostering knowledge sharing, building consensus, and driving positive change in the sector,”Nundwe added.
