Cape Town, South Africa, 13 August 2025
South Africa took centre stage at the Africa Water Investment Summit today as President Cyril Ramaphosa was honoured with the Presidential Global Water Changemakers Award and launched the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments as a G20 Presidential Legacy Initiative, forming a core pillar of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments.
The Council will serve as a high-level platform to sustain political and financial momentum for water investments worldwide, aligning with the Global Investment Platform (GIP) and building towards the UN 2026 Water Conference.
The 2025 Presidential Global Water Changemakers Awards were presented by H.E. Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana and Chair of the Award, in the presence of His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho. Six leaders were recognised for their exceptional leadership in advancing water and climate investments:
H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa – for launching the G20 Presidential Legacy Initiative, the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, the GIP, and hosting the Africa Water Investment Summit.
H.R.H. Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia – for launching the Global Water Organization (GWO) to drive global cooperation on water security, sustainable development, peace, and innovation.
H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates – for co-hosting the UN 2026 Water Conference with Senegal, elevating water on the global climate agenda through COP28, and promoting inclusive, blended finance models.
The Water Changemakers Award also features an Innovation Award for youth and entrepreneurs, launched in July 2024 in South Korea by H.E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th United Nations Secretary-General. The Award was initiated in 2023 by the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water), the World Bank, the African Union AIP High-Level Panel, and the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO).
Alex Simalabwi, CEO of the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO), hailed the laureates as “setting a new global benchmark for political will, investment mobilisation, and cross-border cooperation… Their leadership is delivering solutions for water security today and inspiring the next generation of changemakers.”
The Africa Water Investment Summit, convened under the G20 Presidency of South Africa and the African Union, gathered over 1,000 leaders from governments, development banks, the private sector, and civil society to mobilise financing for bankable water projects, advance the G20 Presidential Legacy Initiative, and implement GWP’s Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments.
Media Contact:Ms Teresa Chirwa-Ndanga| teresa.chirwa-ndanga@gwpsaf.org Website: www.gwp.org
Page last edited: 08/13/2025