PRETORIA, Aug 7 (NNN-SANEWS) — The South African Government is set to host the African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit, which aims to mobilise investments for climate-resilient water infrastructure and unlock shared prosperity across the continent.
Set for next week, the summit takes place during South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the first to be hosted on African soil, under the theme: ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’.
It aims to place Africa’s development challenges, especially water security, at the centre of the global agenda and to help address the continent’s US$30 billion annual water investment gap.
Taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Aug 13-15, the gathering will be held in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), the AU-AIP High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
In a statement, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) noted that Africa’s water infrastructure remains underfunded, hindering economic development, social well-being and climate resilience.
While water and sanitation are foundational to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advancing public health, food security, industrial growth, and climate adaptation, the department said inadequate governance, financing shortfalls and limited technical capacity continue to constrain progress across the continent.
“The summit is a direct response to these systemic challenges. The AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit is designed to be a transformative platform for mobilising political will and capital, and showcasing bankable climate-resilient water and sanitation projects from across the continent.
“These include infrastructure for water supply and irrigation, hydropower, sanitation services and cross-border water governance systems. A critical feature of the summit is its alignment with three strategic investment pathways, drawn from the ‘Africa’s Rising Investment Tide’ report, which was developed by the AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa.
“These include strengthening sector governance to unlock funding confidence, advancing domestic resource mobilisation to increase internal sustainability, and attracting global and continental finance to build partnerships and scale,” the department said.
The three-day gathering will include high-level political plenaries, high-level sessions on investment and innovation, project showcasing and investment matchmaking sessions, and youth water investment track sessions, among others.
The summit will also enable AU Member States to align on water investment priorities and strengthen coordination.
The opening session will be led by the South African Government, in its capacity as G20 Chair, and will feature speakers such as the former President of Tanzania and Alternate Co-Chair of the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, Jakaya Kikwete and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development: AUC, Moses Vilakati.
The expected outcomes of the summit include:
• A Summit Declaration on Water Investments to be endorsed by African Heads of State and aligned with South Africa’s G20 Presidency and the 2026 UN Water Conference.
• Concrete multi-billion-dollar investment pledges from development banks, private financiers, bilateral donors, and philanthropic partners.
• New partnerships and financing mechanisms to improve the long-term resilience and bankability of water investments.
• The inauguration of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, a high-level advisory body to champion water as a global priority in forums such as the G20, Conference of the Parties (COP), and the United Nations.
• Presentation of the 2025 Water Changemaker Awards, including the Presidential Changemaker Award, recognising exceptional leadership and innovation in water sector transformation.
According to the department, the summit reinforces the importance of collective African action.
“With the admission of the African Union into the G20, there is a unique opportunity for AU Member States to speak with a unified voice and co-create a future where water is protected, valued and invested in as a catalyst for shared prosperity.
“Through greater regional collaboration, knowledge exchange and cross-border financing, the continent can transform its water systems and build a resilient and inclusive future,” the department said. — NNN-SANEWS
