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On 27 August 2024, the Coca-Cola System in Africa launched its Water Stewardship Initiative to address water-related challenges in hotspot basins and communities across 18 African Union Member States. The initiative is part of Coca-Cola’s goal to support and advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, focusing on water and sanitation.
AMCOW congratulated the Coca-Cola System in Africa and its partners for launching this New Water Stewardship initiative. Speaking during the launch through a video message, the AMCOW Executive Secretary, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, lauded Coca-Cola for recognising the need to protect and enhance the health of watersheds and facilitate access to water and sanitation services for vulnerable communities.
In his address, Dr Mbaziira reminded Coca-Cola and partners that Africa’s population will reach 1.6 billion by 2030. While this is a potential business market, the implication is that, at the very minimum, food production must increase by 50% to feed that growing population. “Juxtaposed with aspirations for modern economies and social progress, we are looking at a requirement of a tenfold increase in water just for energy production”, added Dr Mbaziira.
The private sector is all too aware of the business risk that water insecurity presents, noted Dr Mbaziira. So, too, is its yet-to-be-fully-tapped potential for collective action to guarantee business continuity and ensure shared prosperity. Dr Mbaziira expressed optimism about the new water stewardship initiative by the Coca-Cola Africa System, and partners responded to that reality.
AMCOW stated that lasting solutions to deliver transformative change, eradicate poverty and eliminate hunger must tackle the governance and institutional capacity constraints underlying water insecurity. The need to attract investments to the water sector that match Africa’s development ambitions is significant.
During the launch, Coca-Cola Systems and partners were informed that efforts are underway to formulate an Africa Water Vision and Policy that responds to these challenges and provides a strategic framework towards inclusive and climate-resilient water security on the continent. Ultimately, the vision and policy must motivate action to achieve the African Union Agenda 2063 goal of environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies and communities through assuring water security, among others. Concluding his address, Dr Mbaziira invited the private sector and the partners to actively engage and contribute to formulating the post-2025 Vision and Policy. He used the opportunity to call on the Coca-Cola System in Africa to champion private sector engagement in this process, which will start at the upcoming 9th Africa Water Week.
