Cape town: The South African government is gearing up to host the African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit, aiming to mobilize investments for climate-resilient water infrastructure and foster shared prosperity across Africa. Scheduled for next week, this summit coincides with South Africa's G20 Presidency, marking the first event of its kind on African soil. The summit's theme, 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,' seeks to spotlight Africa's development challenges, particularly water security, and address the continent's annual US$30 billion water investment gap.
According to South African Government News Agency, the summit, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from August 13 to 15, 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). The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) emphasized that Africa's water infrastructure remains underfunded, hindering economic development, social well-being, and climate resilience.
The AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit is designed to be a transformative platform for mobilizing political will and capital and showcasing bankable climate-resilient water and sanitation projects across the continent. These projects include infrastructure for water supply and irrigation, hydropower, sanitation services, and cross-border water governance systems. The summit aligns with three strategic investment pathways from the 'Africa's Rising Investment Tide' report, which include strengthening sector governance, advancing domestic resource mobilization, and attracting global and continental finance.
The three-day event will feature high-level political plenaries, sessions on investment and innovation, project showcasing, investment matchmaking, and youth water investment track sessions, among others. It will also enable AU Member States to align on water investment priorities and strengthen coordination.
The opening session, led by the South African Government as G20 Chair, will include speakers like former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and AUC Commissioner Moses Vilakati. Expected outcomes include a Summit Declaration on Water Investments, multi-billion-dollar investment pledges, new partnerships, the inauguration of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, and the presentation of the 2025 Water Changemaker Awards.
According to the department, the summit emphasizes the importance of collective African action. With the African Union's admission into the G20, AU Member States have a unique opportunity to unify their voices and co-create a future where water is protected, valued, and invested in as a catalyst for shared prosperity. Through regional collaboration, knowledge exchange, and cross-border financing, Africa can transform its water systems and build a resilient and inclusive future.