ABUJA, Nigeria, September 2023

The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Government of the Republic of Namibia, will convene the Seventh Africa Sanitation and Hygiene Conference, commonly called the AfricaSan7 Conference. The event will take place in Swakopmund, Namibia, on 6 – 11 November 2023 – under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR).

The AfricaSan Conference is organised biennially to promote high-level political prioritisation of sanitation and hygiene issues across Africa. This 7th Edition is convened on the theme: “Strengthening Systems and Partnerships for Accelerated Action on Safely Managed Sanitation and Hygiene.”

The overall objective of the AfricaSan7 Conference is to revitalise the pursuit of the targets of the 2008 Ngor Declaration of African Ministers responsible for sanitation and hygiene. Among others, one specific Conference objective includes strengthening partnerships and facilitating knowledge exchange for action on delivering safely managed sanitation and hygiene services.

AfricaSan7 will convene ministers responsible for sanitation and hygiene in Africa, together with senior civil servants, academics, civil society, development partners and the private sector to take stock of the following:

1. The 2023 AfricaSan Ngor report highlighting Member States’ advancements in sanitation.
2. The Dakar Declaration’s suggestions from the 9th World Water Forum that elevate sanitation’s role in national development and, 
3. The UN 2023 Water Conference decisions to hastening SDG on sanitation and hygiene.

The AfricaSan7 follows in the tradition of six previous editions of the Africa Sanitation and Hygiene Conferences – held on a rotational basis across the five African sub-regions. The Government of the Republic of Namibia will host this editionat the prestigious MTC Dome in Swakopmund.

Arrangements have been in top gear since 17 August when the Cabinet of the Government of the Republic of Namibia approved the joint hosting of the AfricaSan7 Conference with AMCOW.

The technical sessions, Ministerial Dialogues, country and sector dialogues will address several thematic areas across different conference segments. The conference’s attendees will be African Union Member States, UN Agencies, networks of development partners, the private sector, civil societies, community-based organisations, and the media.

For more information about the AfricaSan7 Conference, click on: www.africasan.amcow-online.org

About the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)

The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) is an intergovernmental institution of the African Union. AMCOW’s organs and structures serve as the Working Group of the African Union’s Water and Sanitation Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE).

AMCOW’s mission is to provide political leadership, policy direction, and advocacy for water management and sustainable sanitation services delivery in Africa. The Council convenes the AU Member States and all stakeholders, pursuing the Africa Water Vision, Ngor commitments, and SDGs. Our mandate involves mobilising collective action to achieve water and sanitation goals, streamlining efforts for a broader impact. Additionally, we share knowledge to support evidence-based policies and responsive initiatives. Efficient resource utilisation is crucial to guide funding and investments for effective outcomes. AMCOW strives to improve water and sanitation services in Africa through political leadership, policy direction, and strategic collaboration among diverse actors.

To arrange for interviews please contact

Obinna Anah

AMCOW Knowledge Management, Communications and Visibility Officer

oanah@amcow-online.org

And

Jona Musheko

Communication Officer at Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Namibia

Jona.Musheko@mawlr.gov.na

For more information, visit https://www.amcow-online.org  

Follow AMCOW/MAWLR: 

Twitter: @amcowafrica

LinkedIn: https://ng.linkedin.com/company/amcowafrica

Twitter: @MAWLR_Nam

Facebook: Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Land Reform

AMCOW is making concerted effort to advance the adoption of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision at the forthcoming African Union Summit in February 2026. As a result, the Executive Secretary, Dr Rashid Mbaziira embarked on a diplomatic mission across several member states, including Gambia, Sao Tome, Eswatini, and Burkina Faso. The purpose of these visits, held in July-August 2023, was to raise awareness and foster engagement among member states on critical water and sanitation issues and priorities.

Focusing on Water and Sanitation for Africa’s Development

During these diplomatic visits, the AMCOW Executive Secretary emphasised the critical role of water and sanitation in driving socio-economic development throughout the continent. He stressed water’s vitality across multiple sectors, spanning extraction, production, finance, insurance, real estate, public administration, ICT, transportation, and trade. He also demonstrated how effective water management, coupled with the provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene services, exerts a profound impact on economic growth, job creation, labour productivity, prosperity, general wellbeing, peace, and security.

Dr Rashid highlighted how data from the Africa Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring (WASSMO) system reveal substantial gaps in the pursuit of water and sanitation goals across Africa. He went forward to explain how these gaps hold direct implications for Africa’s overarching agenda, aiming at fostering economic growth and prosperity for all.

The Post-2025 Africa Water Vision

With less than three years remaining before the final milestone of the Africa Water Vision 2025 (AWV2025), meticulous preparations are already underway to transition into the post-2025 era. AMCOW Executive Secretary presented the principal goal of securing the adoption of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision by the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU-HoSG), while also ensuring its alignment with AU Agenda 2063. In line with this, there has been a proposal to adopt ‘Water Security and Sanitation for Peace and Development’ as the theme for the African Union in 2026.

AfricaSan7 Conference and Commitments to Sanitation

Another critical aspect of the engagements with member states was to underscore the significance of active participation in the forthcoming 7th edition of the Africa Sanitation and Hygiene (AfricaSan7) Conference, scheduled to take place from November 6-11, 2026. Dr Mbaziira stressed that the conference will facilitate the assessment of progress by member states in meeting their sanitation and hygiene commitments, as outlined in the 2023 AfricaSan Ngor report. He further explained that the conference will consider the recommendations from the Dakar Declaration of the 9th World Water Forum and commitments arising from the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Enhancing Data for Informed Decision-Making

The visits discussed efforts to mobilise member states’ contribution to the preparation of the 2023 WASSMO report. He demonstrated that the report will be the foundational framework for crafting technical proposals for the post-2025 Africa Water Vision, while keeping Africa Agenda 2063 in sight. He spoke about the importance of collecting high-quality data as it is essential for effectively addressing the actual challenges to water security in Africa. He also stressed that efforts to harness Africa’s vast water resources for social transformation, economic growth, trade, peace, and security necessitates the creation of a comprehensive action framework.

Regional Engagement for Ownership and Impact

Furthermore, Dr Mbaziira highlighted that the imperativeness of member states’ ownership in water-related initiatives has made AMCOW embark on efforts to operationalise water management functions at the regional level. He stressed that the approach acknowledges that continental policy initiatives must be closely aligned with the genuine needs of member states and developed through a Bottom-Up-Top-Down approach. The strategy entails the annual convening of sub-regional Ministerial Committee meetings across AMCOW’s five regions, wherein member states actively participate in shaping continental policy formulation and implementation.

Anticipated Outcomes

These engagements with member states are underpinned by four overarching priorities:

1. The adoption of ‘Water Security and Sanitation for Peace and Development’ as the theme for the African Union in 2026.
2. Active engagement and leadership of Ministers responsible for water, sanitation, and hygiene affairs at the AfricaSan7 Conference.
3. The active contribution of information from a minimum of 50 member states for the preparation of the 2023 WASSMO Report, thereby providing a solid situational analysis for shaping the post-2025 Africa Water Vision.
4. Active involvement of member states in sub-regional Ministerial Committee meetings, serving as the driving force behind continental policy formulation and implementation.

The commitment of AMCOW, in partnership with its member states, remains unwavering in tackling the water and sanitation challenges facing Africa.

The hunt is on for the public and private sector institutions contributing most to private capital mobilization and developing bankable and investable Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) projects in Africa.

Africa, as a continent, needs to mobilise $3trn to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) projects by 2030, while the whole world only managed to mobilise $2.8trn for renewable energy investments over the past 20 years, with Africa only receiving 2% of that global sum.

Announced at the Global NDC Conference in Berlin, the 2023 NDC Investment Summit and Awards will be presented in December at COP28 in the UAE.

Hosted by the African investor (Ai) and sponsored by the African Green Infrastructure Investment Bank (AfGIIB), these NDC awards are the only international, pan-African NDC investment awards that recognize and reward both public and private sector institutions that are working to innovate and break new ground to mobilize private capital and private sector participation at scale, to Africa’s bankable NDC investment commitments and projects.

Could your organisation or project be a 2023 NDC Investment Initiative of the Year?

Entry is a simple 500-word nomination outlining how your organisation meets the awards criteria. Entries from any public or private institution, whether African or international, are welcome, provided they meet the attached category criteria.

DOWNLOAD NDC INVESTMENT AWARDS ENTRY PACK HERE

NDC Investment Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Best NDC Sector Initiatives of the Year:

1. Best Waste NDC Initiative of the Year
2. Best Energy NDC Initiative of the Year
3. Best Transport NDC Initiative of the Year
4. Best Urban Development NDC of the Year
5. Best Forestry NDC Initiative of the Year
6. Best Agriculture NDC Initiative of the Year
7. Best Education NDC Initiative of the Year
8. Best Health NDC Initiative of the Year
9. Best Water NDC Initiative of the Year
10. Best Tourism NDC Initiative of the Year

Private Capital Mobilization Initiatives of the Year:

1. Best Investable NDC Adaption Initiative of the Year
2. Best Bankable Donor NDC Initiative of the Year (technical assistance/financing/project development).
3. Best Blended Investment NDC Initiative of the Year
4. Best Financeable NDC City Initiative of the Year
5. Best GreenTech NDC Initiative of the Year

The NDC Awards Secretariat will present the following Honorary NDC Presidential Investment Statesman of the Year Awards to recognise exemplary Presidential investment leadership on Africa’s climate transition.

Honorary NDC Presidential Investment Statesman of the Year Awards.

1) Presidential ” Green Infrastructure Investment Statesman” of the Year

2) Presidential “Just Transition Investment Statesman ” of the Year

3) Presidential ” Carbon Exchange Investment Statesman”  of the Year

4) Presidential” Transport Investment Statesman” of the Year

5) Presidential “Water Investment Statesman” of the Year

6)  Presidential “Agriculture Investment Statesman” of the Year

The 2023 NDC Investment Awards high-level Adjudication panel consists:

• Dr. Hubert Danso, Chairman of Africa Investor Group and the Chair of the NDC Awards Adjudication panel.
• Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and UN SRSG for Sustainable Energy for All, Co-Chair of UN-Energy.
• John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
• Ziad-Alexandre Hayek, President of the World Association of PPP Units (WAPPP).
• Kandeh Yumkella, Former UN Under-Secretary-General and Secretary-General’s Special Representative and CEO.

Commenting on the Ai NDC Investment Awards winners, Dr Hubert Danso, Chairman of Africa Investor Group and the Chair of the NDC Awards Adjudication panel, said, “Africa investor (Ai) is proud to use its global investment platform to showcase and recognize Africa’s NDC project sponsors, developers, financiers, investors and Presidential Champions. This growing community of leaders are critical to the continent mobilising the required $3trn of green investment for our NDCs by 2030 to pursue Africa’s NetZero aspirations.

He went on to say, “The importance of these global NDC Investment Awards cannot be overstated, given the scale, urgency and fact that the majority of Africa’s $3trn of NDC’s investment requirements will need to mobilize and secure unprecedented allocations of private capital at scale and speed, which is why we are pleased to add this year, a dedicated Private Capital Mobilization category.

The deadline for entry submissions is August 31 this year, and the shortlist will be announced the following month, on September 22, during UN Climate Week in New York. The Award winners will be announced in December at COP28 in the UAE.

Please see and feel free to share this entry pack link widely with your networks, which sets out the entry criteria and submission dates: https://ndcinvestmentawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NDC-Investment-Awards-2023-F1.pdf

To submit your entry, please click here.

ENDS**

Note to Editors

For more information on the Ai African NDC Investment Awards, visit: www.ndcinvestmentawards.com, or email: tmutasa@africainvestor.com

About The NDC Investment Awards Headline sponsor

The African Green Infrastructure Investment Bank (AfGIIB) is an African Union-convened and supported African institutional investor-led, global climate investment platform to catalyze private capital for Africa’s green transition. Visit www.afgiib.com for more information.

About Africa investor (Ai) Group

Africa investor (Ai) Group is an institutional investment holding platform that aligns its pools of capital from sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, family offices, and long-term investors with vetted infrastructure, private equity, and technology investment opportunities in Africa. Visit www.africainvestor.com

See how Ai is combating climate change

Grade : P4 (dans une grille de gradation professionnelle allant de P1 à P5)

Contexte de base : AMCOW est une institution intergouvernementale et non budgétaire qui travaille sous l’égide du Comité technique spécialisé sur l’agriculture, le développement rural, l’eau et l’environnement de l’Union africaine (UA). Notre mission est de fournir un leadership politique, une orientation politique et un plaidoyer dans la fourniture, l’utilisation et la gestion des ressources en eau pour un développement social et économique durable et le maintien des écosystèmes africains. Pour plus d’informations, veuillez consulter : http://www.amcow-online.org/. Le poste de Chargé de mission principal, Gestion des ressources en eau, est l’une des principales fonctions de gestion relevant du directeur des programmes au secrétariat de l’AMCOW, situé à Abuja, au Nigeria. L’étendue des responsabilités du poste est décrite ci-dessous. Responsabilités : Le Chargé de mission principal, Gestion des ressources en eau, sera responsable de la programmation et de la coordination de la mise en œuvre des activités du Secrétariat visant à assurer la gestion durable des ressources en eau de l’Afrique. Ses principales responsabilités sont les suivantes : 1)     Arrangements politiques, réglementaires et institutionnels : Diriger les initiatives de l’AMCOW visant à renforcer les systèmes de gouvernance de l’eau et les structures de gestion en Afrique. Les interventions connexes promeuvent et facilitent la gestion et la gouvernance transfrontalières des ressources en eau de l’Afrique, axées sur l’investissement. L’accent est mis en particulier sur le respect des engagements pris par les dirigeants politiques africains en vue de : a)     augmenter les dotations nationales au secteur de l’eau, de l’assainissement et de l’hygiène, et attirer les investissements pour le développement, l’utilisation et la gestion des ressources en eau. L’une des principales stratégies de l’AMCOW consiste à renforcer les arguments économiques en faveur des investissements dans le secteur de l’eau en Afrique afin d’améliorer les capacités humaines et institutionnelles, de construire des infrastructures et d’améliorer les systèmes d’information à l’appui de la gestion de l’eau ; b)     innover dans les mécanismes de gestion de la demande et améliorer l’efficacité de la production, de l’approvisionnement et de l’utilisation de l’eau dans l’agriculture ; c)     contribuer à l’amélioration de la gouvernance en matière d’assainissement et des mécanismes de prestation de services en ce qui concerne: i)       améliorer l’intégrité environnementale par la gestion des eaux usées et de la qualité de l’eau ii)     promouvoir les systèmes circulaires pour les cycles de l’eau urbaine et l’assainissement productif ; et, iii)    un programme WASH résilient. d)     mobiliser les réseaux d’eau souterraine et les acteurs vers une approche commune, harmonisée et basée sur des preuves de l’utilisation et de la gestion durable des eaux souterraines dans le cadre de la Vision africaine de l’eau 2025, des ODD et de l’Agenda 2063 de l’UA ; e)     renforcer les liens institutionnels et les accords opérationnels entre l’AMCOW et ses partenaires techniques, de mise en œuvre et de financement dans le cadre du nexus eau, énergie, alimentation et écosystèmes (WEFE) ; et f)      renforcer les mécanismes de suivi du financement du secteur – au niveau de l’AMCOW – et renforcer les mécanismes de coordination, d’effet de levier et d’amélioration de l’efficacité de l’utilisation des fonds de l’aide publique au développement (APD) dans le secteur. 2)     Engagement des parties prenantes : Contribuer au renforcement des processus décisionnels en facilitant techniquement l’interaction, à tous les niveaux, des acteurs gouvernementaux et non gouvernementaux, y compris le secteur privé. Le titulaire du poste dirigera les efforts du secrétariat pour traduire le programme d’action prioritaire de l’AMCOW en matière de gestion des ressources en eau en partenariats d’action visant à : a)     promouvoir la comptabilité économique de l’eau en tant que discipline pour, entre autres, améliorer les perspectives de financement et d’investissement pour la gestion des ressources en eau en Afrique ; b)     motiver les actions visant à améliorer les capacités nationales de collecte de données hydrométéorologiques et piézométriques complètes et fiables dans l’ensemble des 64 bassins fluviaux partagés de l’Afrique ; c)     appliquer des solutions fondées sur la perspective du lien entre l’eau, l’alimentation et l’énergie pour assurer la sécurité de l’eau, de l’alimentation et de l’énergie en Afrique ; d)     améliorer la gestion de l’eau agricole, notamment en facilitant l’utilisation des déchets comme ressource agricole au niveau national ; e)     catalyser la mise en œuvre des projets prioritaires relatifs aux eaux transfrontalières dans le deuxième plan d’action prioritaire du programme pour le développement des infrastructures en Afrique (PIDA) ; f)      promouvoir et faciliter le développement multifonctionnel des bassins “verts” axé sur les infrastructures naturelles et construites afin de fournir un continuum de solutions de stockage de l’eau ; g)     aider les États membres et les organisations de bassins fluviaux et lacustres à réaliser des évaluations des ressources en eau, en évaluant la disponibilité des ressources en eaux souterraines et l’impact du changement climatique sur la disponibilité de l’eau douce ; h)     aider les États membres à surveiller et à gérer l’utilisation des eaux souterraines ; i)       promouvoir l’élaboration de cadres juridiques, politiques et institutionnels pour la gestion des eaux usées et le déversement en toute sécurité des effluents dans les cours d’eau et les aquifères transfrontaliers ; j)       améliorer l’accès et le contrôle des ressources, des actifs, des capacités, de l’agence et des opportunités pour les groupes vulnérables au climat et marginalisés ; et, k)     mobiliser les partenariats institutionnels pour renforcer la sécurité de l’eau. 3)     Mobilisation des ressources  : Travailler en étroite collaboration avec le Chargé de mission principal – Gouvernance et partenariats pour mobiliser des fonds et coordonner des initiatives à l’appui des activités d’AMCOW. Les activités s’articulent autour des plans de travail du secrétariat, des plans d’engagement avec les partenaires et des projets PIDA-PAP sur les eaux transfrontalières. Les responsabilités du titulaire sont les suivantes : a)     instituer des mécanismes pour mettre en œuvre des projets identifiés pour leurs avantages partagés, notamment la capacité d’attirer des investissements : b)     l’exploitation des flux de financement des partenaires pour la mise en œuvre du programme de travail de l’AMCOW ; c)     diriger la conception et la formulation de plans d’engagement en faveur de la gestion des ressources en eau et coordonner leur mise en œuvre avec les CER, les organisations régionales et locales, les partenaires techniques et de mise en œuvre, ainsi qu’avec d’autres acteurs du secteur ; d)     contribuer aux réunions et aux engagements du cadre de coordination des partenaires au développement du secteur de l’eau et de l’assainissement (CCPD). Les autres responsabilités comprennent, sans s’y limiter à : 1)     Renforcer la présence et la visibilité d’AMCOW au niveau national et régional, dans le but de promouvoir des outils de prise de décision efficaces et des informations utiles sur la gestion durable des ressources en eau sur le continent. 2)     Promouvoir les synergies régionales et les efforts nationaux en matière de gestion des ressources en eau et institutionnaliser les mécanismes de coordination de la gestion des ressources en eau au sein du Secrétariat. Plus précisément, le chargé de mission principal, Gestion des ressources en eau, est responsable de la gestion des activités clés suivantes : 1)     Assurer une utilisation et une visibilité cohérentes et appropriées de la marque AMCOW en améliorant les activités, l’efficacité et la portée de la gestion des ressources en eau, afin de renforcer la sensibilisation et la compréhension des questions de gestion des ressources en eau parmi les parties prenantes par le biais d’événements nationaux, régionaux et grand public tels que la Semaine africaine de l’eau et les Conférences AfricaSan ;                         Collaborer avec le responsable de la gestion des connaissances et de la communication pour préparer les communiqués de presse et les messages d’interview, ainsi que pour coordonner, relire et assurer la diffusion du contenu des bulletins d’information d’AMCOW et d’autres types de matériel d’apprentissage et de documents politiques. Caractéristiques essentielles: 1)     Au moins 12 ans d’expérience professionnelle, de préférence dans le secteur de l’eau, dont au moins 6 ans d’expérience dans la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau (GIRE), l’analyse de la sécurité de l’eau, la planification et le plaidoyer. 2)     Expérience directe ou expérience de travail avec des partenaires soutenant les initiatives politiques liées à la GIRE et les programmes de travail de la CUA, du secrétariat de l’AMCOW, de l’AUDA-NEPAD, des CER et des organismes régionaux de bassin. 3)     Engagement avéré en faveur de l’excellence et de la qualité des résultats mesurés, du développement et de l’opérationnalisation des programmes dans un cadre intergouvernemental. 4)     Une expérience probante dans les domaines suivants : a)     la facilitation efficace des processus techniques et la coordination des processus multipartites à forte visibilité ; b)     la fixation de priorités et l’élaboration de dispositions de mise en œuvre dans des environnements opérationnels politiquement sensibles et techniquement exigeants ; et, c)     la responsabilité technique de la qualité et du contenu des rapports d’aide à la décision au niveau politique. 5)     Excellentes compétences en matière de diplomatie et d’établissement de relations, avec une capacité à établir des priorités, à négocier et à travailler avec une variété de partenaires techniques, de mise en œuvre et de développement interculturels et de haut niveau, ainsi qu’avec les États membres. Aptitude à effectuer plusieurs tâches à la fois, capable de porter plusieurs chapeaux dans un environnement rapide, stimulant et gratifiant. Formation, qualifications professionnelles et certification : Un master ou un doctorat dans un domaine lié à la gestion de l’eau et des ressources naturelles connexes, à l’ingénierie et à la fourniture de services d’approvisionnement en eau, d’assainissement et d’hygiène. Exigences linguistiques : Maîtrise courante et avancée de l’anglais et/ou du français grâce à l’éducation et à l’expérience dans un contexte professionnel. La maîtrise du portugais et/ou de l’arabe serait un atout Compétences : 1)     Solides compétences proactives en matière de développement commercial. 2)     Compétences supérieures en matière de communication et de présentation. 3)     Diplomatie et capacité de persuasion très raffinées. 4)     Très bonnes aptitudes à l’apprentissage et au partage des connaissances. 5) Solides compétences en matière de constitution d’équipes et de motivation. Compétences informatiques : 1)     Utilisation experte de la suite d’applications Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 2)     Familiarité avec les outils de gestion de projet. 3) Bonne connaissance et, de préférence, expérience professionnelle des technologies basées sur l’informatique en nuage. Conditions d’âge : Le candidat ne doit pas être âgé de plus de 55 ans à la date du 1er août 2023. Valeurs : 1)     Une éthique professionnelle élevée au-delà de la conformité légale. 2)     Engagement envers le bien public. 3)     Engagement en faveur de la qualité et de l’excellence, du partage des connaissances et du maintien de la confiance du public. 4)     Responsabilité envers le secrétariat d’AMCOW, les États membres de l’UA et les partenaires et parties prenantes d’AMCOW. 5) Transparence, honnêteté et intégrité, y compris ouverture et flexibilité interculturelles. Conditions de citoyenneté : Le ou la candidat/e doit être un/e ressortissant/e d’un des États membres de l’UA Les candidats intéressés par ce poste doivent soumettre leur candidature officielle au plus tard le 31 août 2023 à l’adresse électronique suivante : Dépôt des candidatures Le Secrétaire exécutif, Conseil des ministres africains chargés de l’eau  (AMCOW), No. 11, T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro District, Abuja, Nigeria . Email : info@amcow-online.org;   Les candidatures féminines sont vivement encouragées. Veuillez noter que seuls les candidats présélectionnés seront contactés.

Sida is issuing a Call for expressions of interest, to mobilise private sector capital towards positive impact for biodiversity and climate adaptation globally and regionally in Africa.

Why a call for nature?

Climate change and loss of biodiversity present two increasingly important challenges for modern civilisation. Biologically diverse ecosystems are critical for livelihoods, health and well-being, and nature underpins a majority of economic activities. Ecosystem services are also central in society’s response to climate change, in building resilience and adapting to its effects.

The objective of this Call is to identify and select partners suitable for a Sida guarantee, for mobilising capital towards outcomes, services and behaviours that benefit nature.

The Sida guarantee is a flexible risk mitigation instrument, designed to share risk with private actors to mobilise capital. When Sida shares risk with investors they can raise additional capital and take on additional risks that otherwise would not be possible. Click here to: visit the Sida website for full application details.

The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) welcomes a new Director of Programmes in the person of Mr Nelson Gomonda.

Nelson Gomonda is a highly accomplished development professional from Malawi with a track record of over 26 years in the field. With a strong focus on the Water and Sanitation Sector, he has amassed over 15 years of consistent experience at various levels.

Recently, Nelson served as the Senior Policy Specialist at WaterAid, where he played a pivotal role in driving governance initiatives. Before this, he was a consultant supporting renowned institutions, including the African Union. During his tenure at the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, Nelson excelled as a Water Supply and Sanitation Consultant for over three years until December 2021.

His expertise extends to his time at Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), where he contributed as a WASH Specialist in supporting High-Level Political Dialogue held at UNICEF in New York. Nelson’s impactful work also includes his leadership role at the Africa Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) Secretariat in Abuja, where he spearheaded the development of a web-based monitoring and reporting system for Africa’s water and sanitation sector.

Throughout his career, Nelson has garnered valuable experience working with esteemed organizations such as WaterAid, the European Union (EU) Delegation in Malawi, the DFID-supported Poverty and Policy Project, the UNDP-supported Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy (MPRS) project under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, and GIZ.

Nelson holds a Master’s Degree in Policy Studies, which he earned in 2000 through a joint program offered by the Universities of Zimbabwe and Fort Hare in South Africa. His multifaceted background and his passion for sustainable development position him as a seasoned professional in driving positive change within the Water and Sanitation Sector.

Join us to receive Nelson heartily as he resumes office on 1 July 2023 at AMCOW Secretariat to continue his impactful work advancing water and sanitation initiatives across Africa.

Over 41 African Member States gathered today at the African Ministers’ Council on Water’s (AMCOW) 13th General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt. The highly anticipated event, held under the esteemed leadership of Dr Tahani Sileet, Chairperson of AMCOW’s Technical Advisory Committee, saw the participation of Technical Advisory Committee members from 41 countries and various partners.

The General Assembly began with captivating opening remarks from esteemed personalities, setting the stage for an impactful meeting. Dr Rashid Mbaziira, Executive Secretary of AMCOW, presented the Governance Framework and Rules of Procedures, providing a solid foundation for the statutory meetings. The discussions that followed were nothing short of remarkable.

Participants were treated to an inspiring documentary film – An Overview of AMCOW – that shed light on the history and purpose of AMCOW. The film eloquently captured the motivations of AMCOW’s founding leaders and emphasised the critical value of water. Notably, Mr Bai Mas Tall, the first substantive Executive of AMCOW, passionately proclaimed that AMCOW stands as the only Ministerial Council on Water worldwide.

Buoyed up by these powerful anecdotes, attendees delved into other crucial presentations, including the AMCOW Strategy 2018-2030, the 2022 Annual Report on the Implementation of the July 2008 Assembly Declaration (also known as the Africa Water and Sanitation Monitoring Report), the Audit Report on the Financial Statement for the Year ended 31st December 2022, and 2023. The revised AMCOW Gender and Youth Inclusion Strategy took centre stage, garnering extensive attention as it neared adoption and presentation to the Council of Ministers. Ensuring that the strategy genuinely reflected the voice of the Member States became a shared priority.

According to Dr Tahani, the urgency to facilitate action on achieving the water and sanitation goals of the continent cannot be overemphasised. Hence this 13th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly at this time.

Following a rejuvenating health break, participants invested significant time deliberating the Action on Water Adaptation and Resilience (AWARe) initiative and AMCOW’s involvement at the UN 2023 Water Conference. These conversations illuminated the regional and national priorities embedded in AMCOW’s work programmes.

Moreover, the meeting addressed the importance of increasing Member States’ involvement in AMCOW’s programs and the need to sustain initiatives within AMCOW even as they evolve into institutionalised entities. The sense of unity and shared commitment among participants fueled anticipation for the outcomes of this gathering.

As the 13th General Assembly unfolds, hopes run high for its transformative impact on the water sector. The post-2025 Africa Water Vision is set to receive a substantial boost, with countries eagerly raising their priorities and embracing an invigorated drive towards its realisation. AMCOW remains steadfast in its mission to guide and implement strategies that ensure Africa’s water resources are managed sustainably and inclusively.

This General Assembly is a testament to African Member States’ enduring dedication and collective determination to overcome water challenges and create a brighter future for the continent. With renewed energy and shared aspirations, AMCOW marches towards a future where clean water and sanitation are accessible to all Africans.

The 13th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly (GA) of the Governing Council of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) will be hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt in Cairo.

The GA, which will hold from 13-15 June 2023, will consider and guide the formulation and pursuits of AMCOW aspirations and ongoing interventions. These include mobilising the active involvement of the Member States and partners in the formulation of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision and advocating cooperation in the management of water resources through multi-sectoral approaches and water-energy-food-ecosystem perspectives.

The GA will also raise its profile and increase awareness of the value of water as the most precious resource for life and key to climate change adaptation and resilience. The assembly also presents a platform for setting a biennial agenda for Africa’s water and sanitation sector by the Council of Ministers. The principles of a bottom-up-top-down approach will be applied to adopt continental policy initiatives informed by Member States’ priorities at the national and regional levels.

Similarly, ownership of these initiatives is demonstrated by their domestication for implementation at the appropriate levels. It is in this regard that AMCOW executes its mandate as the working group on water and sanitation of the Africa Union’s Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (ARDWE).

The expected outcome would guide cooperative action in the management of Africa’s water resources to support continent-wide aspirations for social transformation, economic growth, regional integration, peace and security. It will also guide the application of information and knowledge resources to promote best practices in water policy reforms and water, food and energy security.

The Council would also agree on transboundary water resources management and water services provision, initiatives, action on climate change adaptation and mitigation studies and developing policies and strategies for mitigating and managing water-related disaster risks.

AMCOW plans to strengthen mechanisms to assure commensurate financial flows to the sector to deliver on continental and global commitments to achieve African water and sanitation goals.

About 135 participants are expected, including representatives of the African Union Commission (AUC), the 55 Ministers responsible for water, 55 TAC and Technical Experts Committees (TEC) members, staff of the Ministry for Water and Irrigation of the Arab Republic of Egypt and AMCOW secretariat.

Photo Credit. Nile River by Harold Edwin Hurst, Charles Gordon Smith, Magdi M. El-Kammash: Encyclopedia Britannica