The African Union Commission, in collaboration with the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, will launch the campaign Mind the Gap – Invest in Water on 19 September 2023 during the United Nations 2023 SDG Summit and second High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week.

The goal of the campaign is to mobilise at least $30 billion annually by 2030 to close the water investment gap in Africa for the achievement of the water related SDG targets on the continent. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness, influence change, and ultimately – prompt behaviour change that can result mobilisation of investments towards climate resilient water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa.

The objectives of the high-level event are as follows:

• Increase ambition to mobilise commitments towards climate resilient water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa;
• To profile climate resilient water investments as a permanent theme of the UN high-level development agenda on water and climate change;
• Mobilise joint high-level leadership and increase ambition to achieve SDG 6 in Africa as part of implementation of the UN 2023 Water Action Agenda; and
• Advocate for implementation of the UN Water Action Agenda in Africa through the AIP High-Level Panel Investment Action Plan and related initiatives on climate resilient water investments.