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More than USD 10 billion in funding was pledged for priority water and sanitation projects across dozens of African countries during the inaugural Africa Water Investment Summit, hosted in Cape Town last week by the African Union and the Africa Water Investment Programme. The three-day event brought together heads of state, ministers, investors, and development partners to accelerate solutions to Africa’s pressing water challenges.
A total of 80 high-priority projects from 38 countries were identified, with investment commitments estimated between USD 10 billion and USD 12 billion annually. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina expressed optimism that more investments will follow, driven by the summit’s momentum.
The event, held under the auspices of the African Union, the High-Level Panel on Water Investment for Africa, and South Africa’s G20 Presidency, was attended by 1,690 delegates. Ministers from 20 nations, backed by African and global leaders, pledged support for bridging Africa’s USD 30-billion annual water investment gap. This funding is critical for achieving the continent’s water-related Sustainable Development Goals and advancing Agenda 2063.
Majodina emphasized that water investment is key to climate resilience, economic growth, and social development. The summit highlighted the need to address governance, financing, capacity, and data gaps in the water sector. A pipeline of bankable projects was showcased to attract investment, and matchmaking sessions helped foster collaboration between governments, developers, and financiers.
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The summit also reinforced the Africa Water Investment Action Plan, launched during COP28, which outlines a strategy for mobilizing USD 30 billion annually to ensure water security across the continent. It further prepared the African Union’s unified stance ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, to be hosted by Senegal and the UAE.
