Press Release

The African Ministers’ Council on Water is pleased to announce the 9^th edition of the Africa Water Week (AWW9). Held biennially, the AWW is co-organised by the African Union Commission (AUC), the Secretariat of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) with support from partners. The 9^th Africa Water Week will be hosted jointly with the 7^th edition of the Cairo Water Week by the Arab Republic of Egypt under the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation from 13 to 17 October 2024 at the Triumph Hotels in Cairo.

Water is the cornerstone of life, health, and development. As Africa strives to achieve the aspirations of the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, ensuring water security and efficient water resource management has never been more critical. The AWW9 offers partners and stakeholders a platform for exchanging information, knowledge and solutions to deliver on water and sanitation goals in Africa. The events will attract participants from end-users, the public service, development financing, the private sector, civil society, the media, and research and academia worldwide.

The 9th Africa Water Week theme is “Placing Water and Sanitation at the Heart of Achieving Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.”

The overarching goal is to evaluate progress made to actualise the Africa Water Vision 2025 (AWV 2025), especially given the fast-approaching final milestone in 2025. This will guide the formulation of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision, drawing on the achievements, lessons learnt, and emerging issues from the pursuit of the AWV 2025. As such, the engagements will follow six sub-themes as follows:

1. Financing, investments, and resource mobilisation
2. Water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and wastewater
3. Water infrastructure for economic growth, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction
4. Water governance and institutions for managing and protecting water resources
5. Information management and capacity development
6. Gender equality and social inclusion

The Executive Secretary of AMCOW, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, stated, “The theme and subthemes of the 9^th AWW are aligned with Africa’s Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring (WASSMO) themes. The idea is to promote discussions and position the outcomes of the 9^th AWW to contribute to the post-2025 Africa Water Vision towards achieving Agenda 2063.”

Participants will hold discussions under different technical and plenary sessions focusing on topical issues. AWW9 will also feature Ministerial and Parliamentary sessions. Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn and share lessons with key sector actors across the globe, as well as network, engage, and build lasting relationships with other attendees. The primary outcome of the event will be a high-level Ministerial Declaration.

Registration for the 9^th Africa Water Week will begin on 1 August 2024. Further information will be provided in due course.

Abuja, Nigeria – June 28, 2024

The 11th Ordinary Session of the Committee of Experts and the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa is held in Abuja, Nigeria, from June 25 to 28, 2024. This significant event is organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Water Resources Management Center (WRMC), with the esteemed participation of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW).

The sessions aim to reinvigorate the regional IWRM process in West Africa, addressing the dynamic challenges in water resource management and setting strategic directions for the future. Attendees include experts from the member states, representatives from regional and international water management organisations, and key stakeholders from development partners, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector. A ministerial session on 28 June will welcome ministers responsible for water in the Western Africa region.

The objective of the event is to review regional IWRM progress. The sessions will provide a comprehensive update on implementing the IWRM process in West Africa since the 4th Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee, which was held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2015.

Other specific objectives include:

1. Assess the implementation status of the decisions from the 4th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee, ensuring continued alignment with regional water management goals.
2. Set strategic directions by examining the 2024 work program and budget of the WRMC and discussing the strategic plan for 2020-2030, focusing on sustainable and integrated water resource management practices.
3. Share key initiatives by ECOWAS and partners, promoting collaboration across transboundary water basins and enhancing regional water governance.
4. Address the operationalisation of the Regional Water Observatory and the promotion of new basin organisations, ensuring effective monitoring and management of water resources.

AMCOW’s delegation, led by the Executive Secretary, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, is critical in this event and demonstrates its commitment to supporting ECOWAS and its member states. In his remarks, the AMCOW Executive Secretary emphasised the importance of sustainable water management for regional and global development. He reiterated AMCOW’s dedication to enhancing governance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing in sustainable water resources management.

“We are honoured to participate in these critical sessions, which mark a significant step towards strengthening water resource management in West Africa. AMCOW remains committed to supporting ECOWAS in turning challenges into opportunities and ensuring water is a source of life, prosperity, and peace for all.”

The Executive Secretary of AMCOW seized the opportunity to call on all participants to attend the ninth edition of Africa Water Week (AWW9), which will be hosted in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt. The event is expected to result in actionable recommendations and strategic directives to guide and strengthen IWRM in West Africa, ensuring resilient and inclusive water management practices across the region.

Bali, Indonesia, 20 May 2024 –

The 10th World Water Forum commences today with a grand opening ceremony, marking the beginning of another edition of the largest global convention dedicated to water. Throughout 18-25 May 2024, global leaders, heads of international organisations, high-level government officials, experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, and economists will converge to share their knowledge, experiences, and practices on a wide range of water-related topics. This prestigious event seeks to address and strategise solutions for pressing water issues.

A significant moment in the Forum’s history, particularly for Africa, was the Africa Water Vision 2025 launch during the second Forum in 2000. The 2024 World Water Forum is determining for the continent as it will outline and endorse the region’s priorities and supply more impetus to the post-2025 Africa Water Vision.

The African region, spearheaded by the African Union-mandated African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), will be duly represented in the Forum following extensive regional consultations in the past months. Through the collaboration of the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), AMCOW and the African Water Facility (AWF), the 10th Forum is hosting an African Pavilion. The Pavilion will be a hub for information and knowledge sharing, facilitating bilateral engagements among Africa’s water partners. The pavilion will feature 18 technical discussions by African institutions, clustered into seven sessions throughout the week from 20-25 May. The 10th World Water Forum will also deliver more African events, including nine regional processes, one side event, two special sessions, two high-level panels, and one Africa Regional Process Synthesis Session.

Africa invites participants to join these events, with detailed programmes available through AMCOW’s Mailchimp and social media platforms. Click the following link for a more comprehensive programme: https://worldwaterforum.org/provisional-agenda  

About the World Water Forum

The World Water Forum, co-hosted by the World Water Council and a host city every three years since 1997, is more than a conference. It includes a three-year preparatory phase, a one-week event phase, and a synthesis phase to present results and support collective action. The Forum unites diverse stakeholders from politics, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Participation has grown from a few hundred to tens of thousands from the international community and host countries. For more information and a comprehensive programme of the Forum, please visit the World Water Forum official website: https://worldwaterforum.org/

11th World Water Forum: Saudi Arabia and Riyadh to host the 11th World Water Forum in 2027

The Governors of the World Water Council have elected Saudi Arabia and Riyadh as the host for the 11th World Water Forum in 2027.

Saudi Arabia and Riyadh’s plan to host the 11th World Water Forum in 2027 on the theme “Action for a Better Future” was elected during the 86th meeting of the Board of Governors of the World Water Council in Istanbul, on February 17, 2024.

Upon the announcement of the election results, World Water Council President Mr. Loïc Fauchon said, “On behalf of the World Water Council, I would like to congratulate Saudi Arabia and Riyadh on its election as the host of the 11th World Water Forum. The World Water Council looks forward to working closely with the Saudi Arabia and Riyadh over the next three years to bring the world together in Riyadh in 2027 to continue to make water a global and political priority.”

The Governors elected the host country and city by secret ballot. Obtaining the majority, Saudi Arabia was elected.

The World Water Forum is the largest international gathering in the water sector involving various stakeholders, co-organized by the World Water Council and a host city. The Forum is held every three years and has been running since 1997. The World Water Forum is not just a conference: it includes a three-year preparation phase (preparatory phase), a one-week event (event phase) and a presentation of the results (synthesis phase), with ongoing support from World Water Council member organizations.  The Forum brings together participants from all levels and fields, including politics, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society, and the private sector, among others. Over the years, the number of Forum participants has grown from a few hundred to tens of thousands, from both the international community and host countries.

COMMUNIQUE

11^ème Forum mondial de l’eau : l’Arabie saoudite et Riyadh accueilleront le 11^ème Forum mondial de l’eau en 2027

Les Gouverneurs du Conseil mondial de l’eau ont élu l’Arabie saoudite et Riyadh pour accueillir le 11^ème Forum mondial de l’eau en 2027.

Le projet de l’Arabie saoudite et Riyadh d’organiser le 11^ème Forum mondial de l’eau en 2027 sur le thème « Action pour un meilleur futur » a été élu durant le 86^ème réunion du bureau des gouverneurs du Conseil mondial de l’eau, à Istanbul, le 17 février 2024.

A l’annonce des résultats de l’élection, le président du Conseil mondial de l’eau, M. Loïc Fauchon, a déclaré « Au nom du Conseil mondial de l’eau, je tiens à féliciter l’Arabie saoudite et Riyadh pour son élection en tant qu’hôte du 11^ème Forum mondial de l’eau. Le Conseil mondial de l’eau se réjouit de travailler en étroite collaboration avec l’Arabie saoudite et Riyadh au cours des trois prochaines années afin de rassembler le monde à Riyadh en 2027 pour continuer à faire de l’eau une priorité globale et politique. »

Les Gouverneurs ont élu le pays et ville hôtes à bulletin secret. En obtenant la majorité avec l’Arabie saoudite et Riyadh ont été élus.

Le Forum mondial de l’eau est le plus grand rassemblement international dans le secteur de l’eau impliquant diverses parties prenantes, coorganisé par le Conseil mondial de l’eau et une ville hôte. Le Forum se tient tous les trois ans et a lieu depuis 1997. Le Forum mondial de l’eau n’est pas qu’une conférence : il comprend une phase de préparation de trois ans (phase préparatoire), un événement d’une semaine (phase événementielle) et une présentation des résultats (phase de synthèse) avec un accompagnement permanent des organisations membres du Conseil mondial de l’eau.  Le Forum rassemble des participants de tous niveaux et de tous domaines, notamment du monde politique, des institutions multilatérales, du monde universitaire, de la société civile et du secteur privé. Au fil des années, le nombre de personnes participant au Forum est passé de quelques centaines à des dizaines de milliers.

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

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

PRESS RELEASE
May 19, 2023

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) hosted a High-Level Meeting on Transboundary Water Resources Management in Africa, ENTEBBE, Uganda – From May 23rd to May 26th, 2023, approximately 75
participants comprising senior management from African River and Lake Basin Organisations, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), members of the Diplomatic Corps in Uganda, and representatives of Development Partners convened at Speke Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo, to discuss joint planning and implementation of water
governance, transboundary water management and development.

Organised by the African Network of Basin Organisations (ANBO) in collaboration with NBI, AMCOW, GIZ, and the World Bank, this pivotal high-level four-day meeting was held in recognition of the need for closer cooperation among these institutions to not only enhance their respective organisational capacities but also increase their responsiveness to the needs of the continent.

The objectives of this continent-wide stakeholder engagement include the following:

• Identifying sector areas on transboundary water resources management for joint planning and implementation.
• Leveraging partnerships and other transboundary cooperation arrangements that will support the management of shared water resources.
• Agreeing on mechanisms to promote the implementation of continental and global commitments on water and sanitation, including Africa Water Vision 2025, PIDA-PAP II water projects, AU Agenda 2063, and SDG 6.
• Preparing a Joint Action Plan for implementation and reporting on the meeting outcomes.

The Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Affairs of the Republic of Uganda opened this high-level meeting as the Guest of Honor. Professor Patrick Otieno Lumumba delivered the keynote address. In her remarks, Hon. Kadaga said that Africa’s shared water resources present opportunities for socioeconomic development for riparian countries. Also, she stressed that knowledge and investment are required to translate these resources into social, economic, environmental, and political benefits for the populace.

Many African Member States recognise that the development of water infrastructure is a key driver of socioeconomic development, and it is worth noting that 64 percent of Africa’s surface area is composed of the transboundary river and lake basins. However, despite this abundance, these shared water resources are under-utilised and, at the same time, at risk of dwindling due to human activities exacerbated by climate change impacts.

African Member States have common developmental goals for the well-being of their respective citizens, and addressing these goals requires a cooperative approach – especially in the transboundary lake and river basins. This high-level stakeholder engagement is the first step in exploring possible areas of collaborative action. It offers a platform for learning and exchanging experiences and lessons learned in transboundary water management.

Following this four-day engagement, a joint Action/Engagement Plan for implementing regional and global commitments will be developed and reporting on the general meeting outcomes.

The Team Europe Initiative (TEI) launch took place during the week of the UN 2023 Water Conference, with David Lymer representing the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Sida supports the Abuja-based African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW). The ongoing contribution to AMCOW builds institutional capacity for 2018-2023 (40 MSEK) to support their role and mandate as an African mechanism for water and sanitation under the African Union – with the natural entry points to the African Union and water ministries of African countries.

These 55 Member Countries of AMCOW are represented by their water Ministers in the AMCOW steering committee. Preliminary findings in a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Sida support to AMCOW demonstrate excellent and tangible results.

Sida’s engagement within the ”Team European Initiative for Transboundary Water Management in Africa” has been carried out so far through our support to AMCOW. In the dialogue with the European Union (EU) around the TEI, Sida has demanded a clear and coordinating role for AMCOW. Sida is currently discussing with AMCOW about a second phase of support (50 MSEK, 2023-2026).

During the 9^th General Assembly of the World Water Council from 10-11 December, members elected The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) into the Board of Governors for 2023 – 2025. The BoDs will promote water as politics and a means to render services to release and sustain the global sustainable development agenda.  

The World Water Council, an international multi-stakeholder platform organisation, is the founder and co-organiser of the World Water Forum. Its mission is to mobilise action on critical water issues at all levels. WWC engages people in debates and challenges conventional thinking at the highest decision-making level. AMCOW, on the other hand, works to provide political leadership, policy direction and advocacy in the provision, use and sustainable management of water resources in Africa.

As part of the AMCOW Strategy to consolidate engagement at the global level, AMCOW successfully bid to serve on the Board of Governors for the period 2023 – 2025. Under College1: International Organisations, AMCOW emerged as first with 184 votes, more than any other.

AMCOW’s function will strengthen WWC’s global efforts in mobilising collective action on the water for all purposes. AMCOW brings on board several years of significant contribution to shaping the agenda and focus of the World Water Fora. It will facilitate access to the African Union Heads of State and Government, Ministers responsible for water affairs and the Member States. Overall, the World Water Council will benefit again from AMCOW’s experience in successfully coordinating the Africa Regional processes for the 5th, 6th and 7th editions of the World Water Forum. AMCOW will contribute to the sub-themes and format of the 10^th Forum – “Spare and Share Water”. It will also drive the mobilisation of a solid and impactful African presence at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia.

AMCOW served on the World Water Council’s Board of Governors from 2008 – 2016 when it played critical roles at the 8th and 9th World Water Forums in Brasilia and Dakar.