The Governing Council
The Council serves as the principal inter-governmental body on water issues and is composed of all 55 African Ministers responsible for water affairs in the region. The Council has the following functions:
- To keep the state of Africa’s water resources under review and promote desirable actions of common interest to Africa
- To facilitate sub-regional, regional and international cooperation through the coordination of issues relating to water policies and actions among African countries
- To support international cooperation on water-related issues through development of common positions on matters of global concerns as well as cooperation in implementation of relevant conventions and international agreements
- To encourage mechanisms that promote best practices in water policy reforms, integrated water resources management, food security, water supply and sanitation, and also assist in delivery of national, sub-regional and regional programmes
- To provide a forum for dialogue with UN agencies and other partners on water programmes
- To promote, in the region, studies regarding climate change, develop policies and strategies for the management of water resources during drought and floods, and develop policies and strategies for averting water crises in Africa
- To keep under review and constantly seek to strengthen the financing of the water sector in Africa
- To promote sub-regional and basin-wide cooperation.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee comprises the President of the Council and 15 other members—three members elected from each of the five sub-regions of Africa on a rotational basis. The members are selected by the sub-regions.
The Committee performs the following functions:
- To deliberate on the decisions and recommendations of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and forward required decisions and issues for the deliberations of the Governing Council
- To ensure that decisions of the Council are implemented
- To endorse the programs and budgets for the approval of the Council
- To decide on arrangements for the sessions of the Council, and
- To decide on strategic directions of the constituent organs of AMCOW.
The Governance Structure
- President: Arab Republic of Egypt, Prof. Dr. Hani Sewilam, AMCOW President, Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt.
- Vice President (Central Africa): Sao Tome et Principes, Hon. Adelino Afonso Fernandes Rosa Cardoso, Ministério das Infra-estruturas, Recursos Naturais e Ambiente
- Vice President (Eastern Africa): Kenya, Hon. Alice Muthoni Wahome, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Water, Sanitation & Irrigation
- Vice President (North Africa): Mauritania, H.E. Sidi Mohamed Taleb Amar, Ministre de l’Hydraulique et de l’Assainissement de la République
- Vice President (Southern Africa): Angola, Hon. João Baptista Borges, Ministry of Energy and Water Affairs
- Vice President (West Africa): Republic of Benin, Hon. Samou SEIDOU ADAMBI, Ministère de l’Eau et des Mines (MEM)