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.