During the Ministerial Dialogue Session held at PNANAFCON-3, on 27 May, in Lusaka Zambia, an opportunity was seized to handover instruments of AMCOW Leadership to Dr Cheikh Tidiane DIÈYE, Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, and current AMCOW President. The handover included the African Union and AMCOW’s flags.
This follows a handover to the leadership of policy organs during the 6th Extra-Ordinary Session of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Governing Council of AMCOW held virtually on 3 March 2025. The Republic of Senegal humbly and resolutely accepted the responsibility to lead AMCOW for a two-year term from 2025 – 2027.
PANAFCON-3 Kicks Off in Lusaka: Ministers Embrace a Bold Vision for Africa’s Water and Sanitation Future
Lusaka, Zambia – 27 May 2025
The third Pan-African Conference on Water (PANAFCON-3) officially opened on Tuesday in Lusaka, Zambia, with a high-level Ministerial Session setting the tone for what is expected to be a landmark event. Ministers, water experts, and development partners gathered to deliberate on the draft Post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy,reaffirming the continent’s determination to place water at the heart of its development agenda.
Shaping Africa’s Water Vision
A central feature of the session was the presentation of eight bold Vision Statements, developed through subregional consultations held between March and April 2025. These statements are poised to shape the Post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy, positioning water as a strategic driver for inclusive development and economic growth.
The eight draft Vision Statements are:
Universal access to safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Sustainable water availability to support transformed economies amidst climate uncertainty.
Resilient people and ecosystems protected from water-related disasters.
Transparent water governance rooted in subsidiarity and accountability.
Water basins as assets for peace, regional integration, and shared prosperity.
Skilled human capital and technology to drive resource management.
Investment in integrated water information systems to support evidence-based decision-making.
A thriving blue economy that harnesses Africa’s marine wealth for sustainable development.
Zambia Issues a Call to Action
Opening the Ministerial Session, H.E. Eng. Collins Nzovu, Zambia’s Minister for Water Development and Sanitation, called on delegates to respond to urgent challenges such as climate change, urbanization, pollution, and water scarcity.
“Let’s make today’s conversation count,” he urged. “Let us demonstrate Africa’s political determination to put words into action. May this meeting be a watershed moment in the continent’s journey towards water security and resilience.”
As host nation, Zambia underscored the importance of a bold, practical, and responsive water vision,one that reflects water’s vital role in advancing peace, development, and climate adaptation.
AUC and AMCOW: Bold Actions Are Needed
The African Union Commission (AUC) emphasized that water security is critical to achieving Agenda 2063. H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, stated:
“Africa must recognise water as a critical resource and a powerful enabler of sustainable. socio-economic development.”
AMCOW President, H.E. Dr. Cheikh T. Dieye, Senegal’s Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, warned of rising pressures from population growth, rapid urbanization, and climate change. He called for greater investment, stronger institutions, and adaptive water systems:
“This is not just another meeting—it is a defining moment to transform our water and sanitation systems into engines of resilience, health, and prosperity.”
In March 2025, Senegal officially took over the AMCOW presidency from Egypt. As incoming chair, Senegal has committed to driving governance reforms, strengthening advocacy, and globally repositioning Africa’s water agenda.
AfDB Spotlights Financing Gaps
The African Development Bank (AfDB) presented sobering figures on Africa’s water financing needs. While the continent requires $50 billion annually, current investments range between $10–19 billion, resulting in a yearly funding gap of $30–40 billion.
The Bank flagged critical threats including rising public debt, falling official development assistance (ODA), and increasing climate shocks. However, it also highlighted opportunities in domestic resource mobilization, private sector investment, and climate finance to bridge the gap.
The Road to 2026: Building Momentum
With 2026 declared the African Union Year on Water and Sanitation, a series of key events in 2025 will help shape and finalize the Post-2025 Vision, including:
AU AIP Investment Summit – Cape Town, 13–16 August
AMCOW General Assembly
Africa Climate Summit
AU Specialized Technical Committee on Water and Environment
South Africa, which currently holds the G20 Presidency, used the platform to invite ministers to the AIP Investment Summit, further demonstrating Africa’s growing momentum to prioritize water investments and reforms.
From Declarations to Action
As PANAFCON-3 progresses, attention is now turning to how stakeholders will translate bold declarations into practical, measurable outcomes. The stakes are high. Africa’s socio-economic future, and its broader development path—will depend on realizing the conference theme:
“Assuring Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sanitation for the Africa We Want.”
Stay tuned for continued updates from PANAFCON-3 in Lusaka.
Bienvenue dans la première édition trimestrielle du bulletin du Conseil des ministres africains chargés de l’eau (AMCOW) pour 2025. Au cours de ce trimestre, nous avons poursuivi notre mission de leadership politique, d’orientation des politiques et de plaidoyer en matière de fourniture, d’utilisation et de gestion des ressources en eau pour un développement social et économique durable et la préservation des écosystèmes africains.
Ce bulletin présente les principales initiatives et activités entreprises dans le cadre de notre rôle en tant que comité ministériel sectoriel sur l’eau et l’assainissement du comité technique spécialisé sur l’agriculture, le développement rural, l’économie bleue, l’eau et l’environnement (CTS sur l’ARBWE) de l’Union africaine.
Nous sommes impatients de travailler avec vous à la formulation d’une vision et d’une politique africaines de l’eau pour une sécurité de l’eau inclusive et résiliente au climat sur le continent au-delà de 2025.
Voici notre sélection de faits marquants pour les mois de janvier, février et mars 2025
Welcome to the first quarterly edition of African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) bulletin for 2025. In this quarter, we continued with our mission of providing political leadership, policy direction and advocacy in the provision, use and management of water resources for sustainable social and economic development and maintenance of African ecosystems.
Highlighted in this bulletin are key initiatives and activities undertaken in our role as the Sectoral Ministerial Committee on Water and Sanitation of the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, Water and Environment (STC on ARBWE) of the African Union.
We are looking forward to engaging with you as we formulate an Africa Water Vision and Policy for inclusive and climate resilient water security on the continent beyond 2025.
Here is our pick of key highlights for the months of January, February and March 2025
On Monday, April 28, the AMCOW President, Dr Cheikh Tidiane DIEYE reaffirmed Senegal’s commitment towards setting the water and sanitation agenda on the Continent. His Excellency Dr DIEYE, who is also Senegal’s Minister for Water and Sanitation said this during a working session with AMCOW Executive Secretary, Dr Rashid Mbaziira.
Dr Mbaziira used the occasion to thank AMCOW President and the Government of the Republic of Senegal for support and commitment towards the AMCOW work programme.
The Republic of Senegal, together with Member States and the African Union Commission, advocated for the adoption of water and sanitation as the African Union Theme for 2026. During the 38th Ordinary Session, the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government (HoSG) of the Union took a decision adopting “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063” as the African Union Theme of the year 2026.
The business of the Union to commemorate the water and sanitation theme will be launched at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in February 2026. The Summit will set the stage for consideration and adoption of an Africa Water Vision and Policy. The goal is to strengthen water security towards attainment of Africa’s aspirations to expand economic opportunities; and curtail the factors underlying unemployment, migration, displacement and insecurity.
Regarding the formulation of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy, the AMCOW President, pledged to work with fellow Ministers to ensure consensus on priorities and common position. Dr DIEYE emphasised on the importance of strengthening cooperation and hydro-diplomacy within the context of existing challenges, including climate change.
He observed that the third African Implementation and Partnership Conference on water and sanitation (PANAFCON-3), hosted by the Republic of Zambia’s on 27 – 29 May 2025, provides an opportunity to build the consensus among political leaders.
Further, the AMCOW President also pledged to work with Member States to ensure vertical linkage and articulate Africa’s common position during the 2026 UN Water Conference. Senegal is Co-Chair with the United Arab Emirates of the 2026 UN Water Conference planned for December 2026 in Abhu Dhabi.
Dr DIEYE invited the Executive Secretary to work closely with the AMCOW Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Chairperson, Dr Bakary FATY, to strengthen engagement with Member States and development partners. During the working session, the AMCOW President was joined by Dr Mohamed C DIATTA (Focal Person for 2026 UN Water Conference), Dr Amadou GUEYE (Deputy Focal Person for the 2026 UN Water Conference) and Omar SENE (Director of Sanitation).
The Republic of Senegal assumed the presidency from the Arab Republic of Egypt on 3 March 2025, and will lead AMCOW for a two-year term until 2027.
Le Président de l'AMCOW, le Dr. Cheikh Tidiane DIEYE, s'engage à travailler avec les ministres de l'eau du continent pour faire avancer l'agenda de l'eau et de l'assainissement
Le Président de l’AMCOW, le Dr. Cheikh Tidiane DIEYE, s’engage à travailler avec les ministres de l’eau du continent pour faire avancer l’agenda de l’eau et de l’assainissement.
Le lundi 28 avril, le Président de l’AMCOW, Dr Cheikh Tidiane DIEYE, a réaffirmé l’engagement du Sénégal à définir l’agenda de l’eau et de l’assainissement sur le continent. Son Excellence le Dr DIEYE, qui est également ministre sénégalais de l’eau et de l’assainissement, a fait cette déclaration lors d’une séance de travail avec le Secrétaire exécutif de l’AMCOW, le Dr Rashid MBAZIIRA.
Le Dr MBAZIIRA a profité de l’occasion pour remercier le président de l’AMCOW et le gouvernement de la République du Sénégal pour leur soutien et leur engagement envers le programme de travail de l’AMCOW.
La République du Sénégal, de concert avec les États membres et la Commission de l’Union africaine, a plaidé pour l’adoption de l’eau et de l’assainissement comme thème de l’Union africaine pour l’année 2026. Lors de sa 38ème session ordinaire, la Conférence des Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement (HoSG) de l’Union a pris une décision adoptant « Assurer une disponibilité durable de l’eau et des systèmes d’assainissement sûrs pour atteindre les objectifs de l’Agenda 2063 » comme thème de l’Union africaine pour l’année 2026.
Les travaux de l’Union pour commémorer le thème de l’eau et de l’assainissement seront lancés lors de la 39ème session ordinaire de l’Assemblée en février 2026. Le sommet ouvrira la voie à l’examen et à l’adoption d’une Vision et d’une Politique africaines de l’eau. L’objectif est de renforcer la sécurité de l’eau en vue de réaliser les aspirations de l’Afrique à élargir les opportunités économiques et à atténuer les facteurs sous-jacents au chômage, à la migration, au déplacement et à l’insécurité.
En ce qui concerne la formulation de la Vision et de la Politique africaines de l’eau post-2025, le président de l’AMCOW s’est engagé à travailler avec ses homologues ministres pour garantir un consensus sur les priorités et une position commune. Dr. DIEYE a souligné l’importance de renforcer la coopération et l’hydro-diplomatie (la diplomatie liée à la gestion des ressources en eau) dans le contexte des défis actuels, y compris le changement climatique.
Il a observé que la Troisième Conférence panafricaine de mise en œuvre et de partenariat sur l’eau et l’assainissement (PANAFCON-3), accueillie par la République de Zambie du 27 au 29 mai 2025, offre l’occasion d’établir un consensus entre les dirigeants politiques.
En outre, le président de l’AMCOW s’est également engagé à travailler avec les États membres pour assurer la coordination entre les niveaux institutionnels et exprimer la position commune de l’Afrique lors de la Conférence de l’ONU sur l’eau de 2026. Le Sénégal copréside avec les Émirats arabes unis la Conférence des Nations unies sur l’eau de 2026, prévue en décembre 2026 à Abou Dhabi.
Le Dr DIEYE a invité le Secrétaire exécutif à travailler en étroite collaboration avec le Président du Comité consultatif technique (TAC) de l’AMCOW, le Dr Bakary FATY, afin de renforcer l’engagement avec les États membres et les partenaires de développement. Au cours de la session de travail, le Président de l’AMCOW a été rejoint par le Dr Mohamed C. DIATTA (Point focal pour la Conférence de l’ONU sur l’eau 2026), le Dr Amadou GUEYE (Adjointe au Point focal pour la Conférence de l’ONU sur l’eau) et Omar SENE (Directeur de l’Assainissement).
La République du Sénégal a succédé à la République arabe d’Égypte et assurera la présidence de l’AMCOW jusqu’en 2027, pour un mandat de deux ans
The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) announces the appointment of Mr Bala M Taham as acting Director of Corporate Services. The appointment takes immediate effect.
Mr Bala is a pioneer staff member of AMCOW. He brings to the role over two decades of experience and demonstrated success in financial management, administration, human resources management and procurement.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU Zaria). In addition, he is a certified member of the Chartered Institute of Cost and Management Accountants (CICMA), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supplies (CIPs).
Mr Bala has held several positions in the Corporate Services Department at AMCOW – including Project Accountant, Procurement Specialist, HR and Procurement Specialist, and currently, Government Liaison Officer. He will act as the Corporate Services Director pending the appointment of a substantive Director for the department.
The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) has unveiled the highly anticipated midterm evaluation results for its Strategic Operational Plan (SOP) 2020-2024. This plan, which serves as the backbone of AMCOW’s efforts to drive the sustainable development of Africa’s water resources, is designed to align with the continent’s broader goals under the Africa Water Vision 2025 and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The midterm review offers a comprehensive assessment of the progress made in the first half of the implementation period. Key achievements include strengthening water governance frameworks across several member states, enhanced partnerships with regional and international organisations, and strides in the knowledge management landscape by launching the AMCOW Knowledge Hub.
Regarding water and sanitation service delivery, the report highlights the significant progress made in improving access to clean water for both rural and urban populations. Several countries have also successfully developed more robust monitoring systems for water quality, which are crucial for safeguarding public health and ensuring sustainable water use.
However, the evaluation also underscores critical challenges. Some of these include gaps in funding and capacity that are slowing progress and the increasing impact of climate change on water resources. The growing need for adaptive measures to ensure the resilience of water systems has been a key takeaway from the report.
Moving forward, AMCOW will focus on accelerating the pace of the plan’s implementation, bolstering its efforts to enhance cross-sector collaboration, mobilise resources, and scale up innovative solutions for integrated water resource management. As AMCOW enters the second half of its Strategic Operational Plan, it remains committed to strengthening Africa’s water security and fostering inclusive development. The midterm evaluation provides valuable insights to inform ongoing efforts to achieve lasting results by 2024, ensuring that the continent remains on track to meet its water and sanitation goals.
On August 27, 2024, the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), in collaboration with DHI, convened a session titled “The Hub of Hubs: Knowledge Sharing Platform for Peace” at the 2024 World Water Week in Stockholm. The session, moderated by Louise Heegaard, promoted efforts to operationalise AMCOW’s continental knowledge-sharing platform for supporting water and sanitation management across Africa.
Dr Tahani Sileet, Minister Assistant for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt and AMCOW TAC Chair, opened the session with a keynote address. She underlined the platform’s importance for achieving water-related goals and priorities in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Following Dr Sileet, various sector speakers highlighted key knowledge management initiatives.
Department of Water and Sanitation, South Africa, shared its Knowledge Management Strategy, emphasising the need to move from mere data and information gathering to active knowledge sharing. The strategy demonstrated how co-creation and integration can reduce redundancy and enhance resource efficiency. Senegal’s Pole Eau Dakar (PED) initiative was presented as a case study, showcasing how effective implementation can promote regional knowledge sharing. The Congo Basin Catchment Information System (CB-CIS) offered a system-thinking approach to managing large river basins and highlighted the importance of cross-boundary data collaboration. The World Bank introduced innovative uses of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to advance knowledge-sharing within the water sector, stressing synergies between the Hub of Hubs and the World Bank’s information systems and learning networks.
AMCOW’s WASSMO System (currently under update) was showcased as an integral component of the Hub of Hubs, with new features to include AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard indicators, facilitating evidence-based decision-making. Preliminary findings of the AMCOW Knowledge Management Audit revealed the participation rate and feedback from member states, along with recommendations for advancing knowledge-sharing practices. To wrap it up, Code Kraft presented the technical backbone of the Hub of Hubs, illustrating how ICT can be leveraged to create sustainable knowledge-sharing systems.
The session identified several challenges in knowledge management across the African water sector, such as inadequate resources, low prioritization of knowledge development, and fragmented efforts in moving from data collection to actionable knowledge. However, innovative solutions were also proposed, including expanding AMCOW’s knowledge audit, strengthening the WASSMO system, and increasing member-state participation. An ambitious goal was to identify 110 focal points (two per member state) to enhance the platform’s mandate.
Participants shared their thoughts on transferring data into practical knowledge in an engaging fishbowl-style discussion. A representative from World Waternet, an implementing partner in Kenya, sought guidance on connecting with AMCOW’s focal points. Others, like participants from Lesotho, discussed challenges with accessing country-specific data, underscoring the need for more transparency and reciprocity in data-sharing.
The session also explored potential avenues for expanding AMCOW’s network, including suggestions to use LinkedIn as a connector for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The session concluded with several action points aimed at sustaining the momentum. These include planning a technical workshop during Africa Water Week in Cairo, continuing discussions with key financiers and drafting a two-page follow-up proposal to negotiate long-term support for the Hub of Hubs initiative.
In terms of engagement, the session saw active online and onsite participation, with representatives from key organizations expressing interest in further collaboration. The World Bank, IWMI, GIZ, and Business Connect L3C were among them. These partners highlighted the importance of networking and knowledge integration, positioning AMCOW’s Hub of Hubs as a critical driver for achieving Africa’s water security goals.
As AMCOW continues to champion knowledge management for Africa’s water and sanitation sectors, this 2024 World Water Week session marks a significant step towards realizing a unified, accessible, and impactful Hub of Hubs platform that fosters collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development across the continent.
The African Water Facility (AWF) – as an initiative of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW), hosted and managed by the African Development Bank – has officially launched its groundbreaking Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII) at the 2024 World Water Week in Stockholm. Hon. Carl-Hermann Gustav Schlettwein, Minister for Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Namibia, Chair of the African Water Facility Governing Council, graced the launch event. Key stakeholders from across the water and sanitation sectors and development partners across the globe attended the event.
In his address, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, Executive Secretary of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), highlighted the critical need for innovative solutions to tackle the severe sanitation challenges faced by the urban populations across Africa. “Over 50% of our rapidly growing urban population lacks adequate sanitation services,” he noted. “This translates into an estimated annual economic cost of $40 to $50 billion due to sanitation failures.”
The AUSII aims to reverse this trend by promoting a paradigm shift from conventional infrastructure investments to an inclusive, climate-resilient approach tailored to the diverse needs of Africa’s cities. Over the next decade, the initiative is set to directly improve sanitation access for 15 million urban inhabitants through 50 carefully prepared projects. Furthermore, it aims to mobilize $7 billion in commercial and concessional finance to bolster public and private sector sanitation projects.
Dr Mbaziira emphasised that the initiative is crucial to achieving the Africa Water Vision 2025 targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set. “Sanitation is a fundamental human right critical to public health, environmental sustainability, and overall well-being,” he said. He underscored the importance of private sector involvement, noting that AUSII will encourage investments from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to drive sustainable urban sanitation solutions.
At the beginning of his statement, Dr Mbaziira led the participants in observing a moment of silence in honour of the late Albert Diphoorn. Bert, as he was popularly known, was a key figure and played a key role in the establishment of the Africa Water Facility, whose contributions to the sector remain impactful today.
Reflecting on the broader impact of the initiative, Dr Mbaziira expressed confidence in AUSII’s ability to transform Africa’s urban sanitation landscape. “The commitment of AMCOW member states to this initiative is firm,” he said. “We are injecting new approaches to increase domestic allocations to the sector, ensuring inclusive and climate-resilient water security across the continent.”
As the first of its kind, the AUSII launch sets the stage for continued progress in Africa’s water and sanitation sectors. Stakeholders and funding partners, including the African Development Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, were lauded for supporting this initiative.
The AUSII will have a second launch at the upcoming Africa Water Week in Cairo, scheduled for October 2024, where further discussions will be held to ensure its successful implementation across the continent.
On 25 July, the Executive Secretary made a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister for Natural Resources and Energy, His Royal Highness Prince Lonkhokhela. Underscoring water as an essential ingredient of ambitions for food and energy security; employment creation; human and environmental health; trade and regional integration; as well as peace and security, the need to attract commensurate financing to the water and sanitation sector cannot be overemphasised att. His Royal Highness acknowledged the Africa Water Facility’s support for the feasibility studies for the Nondvo and Hawane dams that will contribute to water infrastructure growth in the country. It was agreed to continue the engagement on how the AMCOW Secretariat can be of more service to the realisation of Kingdom’s water and sanitation agenda. The Executive Secretary was humbled by His Royal Highness’ gift and lesson on wearing the lihiya. Further discussions touched on the plans and overarching goal of the 9th Africa Water Week vis-à-vis ongoing consultation processes to ensure that the post-2025 Africa Water Vision effectively addresses the real needs of Member States.
Later in the day, the Executive Secretary met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini Joint River Basins Authority, Ms Sindy Mthimkulu. They exchanged ideas on the need to strengthen basin institutions for water management. They emphasised the vitality of sustainable water management to assure water security and enable both social transformation and economic growth.