African leaders have officially endorsed and launched the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy during the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, elevating water and sanitation to the forefront of the continent’s political and development agenda.
The landmark initiative was unveiled on 15 February 2026 during a High-Level Side Event titled “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” held on the margins of the African Union Summit. The launch represents a decisive transition from political commitment to coordinated continental implementation under the African Union’s 2026 Theme of the Year focused on water and sanitation.
Water and Sanitation Move to the Center of Africa’s Political Agenda
The adoption of the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy signals a strategic transformation in how African governments approach water governance. Water and sanitation are no longer viewed solely as sector-specific challenges but are now recognized as foundational pillars for:
economic transformational
climate resilience
regional integration
sustainable development
long-term continental prosperity
African leaders emphasized that securing equitable access to water and sanitation is essential to achieving the broader ambitions outlined in Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term development framework.
A Continental Framework for Sustainable Transformation
The Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy establish a unified continental roadmap designed to:
secure sustainable water availability across Africa
guarantee safe sanitation systems for all citizens
mobilize climate-resilient investments
strengthen governance, monitoring, and accountability
advance transboundary water cooperation
The Vision and Policy were endorsed by Heads of State and Government during the Ordinary Session and will serve as the foundation for developing:
1. A continental implementation framework aligned with Agenda 2063 objectives
2. Africa’s Common Position and contribution to the UN 2026 Water Conference, aimed at accelerating global progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) on clean water and sanitation.
Structured around eight strategic pillars, the framework addresses universal access, ecosystem resilience, trusted data systems, human capital development, sustainable water availability, and cooperative basin management—providing a comprehensive blueprint for coordinated action across sectors and national borders.
African Leaders Call for Investment, Implementation and Measurable Results
During the launch ceremony, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, represented by H.E. Moses Vilakati, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), described the initiative as a historic milestone for the continent.
He stressed that dedicating 2026 to water and sanitation represents a turning point for Africa, emphasizing that investment in the sector delivers substantial economic returns.
“Investing in water and sanitation is not a cost; it is one of the highest-return investments Africa can make. Securing water and sanitation means securing Africa’s economic transformation,” he stated.
Presenting the Action Framework for the AU Theme of the Year, Commissioner Vilakati highlighted that the continent must now shift its focus toward implementation, warning that Africa remains off track in meeting its water and sanitation commitments due to significant underfinancing.
He noted that success will ultimately be measured by tangible outcomes, particularly the number of African citizens gaining access to safe water, improved sanitation, and resilient services.
Africa Water Vision Framed as a Strategy for Prosperity and Stability
Speaking on behalf of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), H.E. Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, Senegal’s Minister for Hydraulic and Sanitation and President of AMCOW, described the Vision as transformative.
“This is not merely a sectoral vision and policy. It is a continental strategy for prosperity, peace, and resilience,” he said, adding that the launch marks the beginning of a new era of collective African determination.
The official launch was led by H.E. Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia, represented by Hon. Eng. Collins Nzovu, Zambia’s Minister of Water Development and Sanitation.
President Hichilema emphasized that the initiative fulfills a mandate entrusted by African leaders and described the Vision as a transformative blueprint rather than a conventional policy framework.
He underscored water’s strategic importance to the continent, calling it the lifeblood sustaining communities, powering industries, and connecting African nations.
Highlighting the urgency of cooperation, he noted that approximately 90% of Africa’s surface water resources cross national borders, making collaboration essential rather than optional. He further explained that the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy serve as Africa’s Common Position integrating water governance into the African Peace and Security Architecture to prevent shared water basins from becoming sources of conflict.
The Zambian president also called attention to Africa’s estimated annual water investment gap of $30 billion, urging governments, development partners, and citizens to collectively embrace the Vision and accelerate implementation.
International Partnerships Supporting Africa’s Water Ambitions
The European Union is supporting the initiative through the Blue Africa Action program, co-funded by the Government of Germany and implemented in partnership with the African Union Commission and AMCOW. The program contributed to the development of the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy and continues to assist in its implementation phase.
Building on Lessons from Africa Water Vision 2025
The newly launched framework builds on lessons learned from the Africa Water Vision 2025 and continental monitoring mechanisms, including AMCOW’s WASSMO reporting process.
These assessments revealed both measurable progress and persistent structural gaps, reinforcing the need for stronger accountability mechanisms and accelerated execution across member states.
A Continental Call for Collective Action
With its formal endorsement, the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy now provides a clear strategic direction for African Union Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and development partners to translate political commitments into measurable and sustainable impact.
African leaders concluded that ensuring universal access to water and sanitation is inseparable from securing Africa’s future—economically, socially, and environmentally—marking the beginning of a new phase of continental cooperation and delivery.
After AU Summit , FM Abdelatty heads to Nairobi to boost Egypt–Kenya ties
