Four co-chairs of the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa; H.E Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chair of the African Union, H.E Hage Geingob, President of Namibia, H.E Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands and H.E Jakaya Kikwete, Former President of the Republic of Tanzania have each received the Presidential Global Changemakers Award for demonstrating high level political commitment and leadership for climate resilient water security in Africa.
The objective of the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments in Africa is to develop actionable pathways for mobilizing US$30bn annually by 2030, for implementing the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) and closing the existing water investment gap in Africa, which is estimated at US$11-19bn. Currently, over 300 million Africans do not have access to clean drinking water and over 700 million live without access to good sanitation. Approximately US$50 billion annually, or US$40 per African per year is required, to achieve water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa by 2030.
H.E. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia and H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council have also received the award for local country leadership following the launch of the Zambia Water Investment Programme and the Zanzibar Water Investment Programme respectively.
The awards were presented to the six leaders on Wednesday March 22, 2023 by H.E. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana and Chair of the Presidential Global Changemakers Award during the launch of the International High-Level Panel Report on Water Investments in Africa titled Africa’s Rising Investment Tide at the ongoing UN Water Conference in New York, the first United Nations conference on water issues since 1977.
The report, which the High-Level Panel developed under the leadership of the African Union Commission in collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD and the Co-Chairs of the High-Level Panel outlines three pathways to secure an additional US$30 billion to achieve water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa by 2030 on the continent:
- Pathway 1. Achieve more impactful water spending and financial leveraging
- Pathway 2. Mobilise Domestic Resources
- Pathway 3. Secure Global and Continental Investment and Finance
The Panel proposes a 5-point Action Plan for Heads of State and governments, business and global leaders, to support the implementation of the three actionable pathways.
- Establish cross-sectoral political leadership at the highest level, with commitment to substantially increase public budgets and investments for water security and sustainable sanitation.
- Track progress and enhance mutual accountability for results in the mobilisation of water investments and in peer review mechanisms at all governance levels. Recommit to allocation of at least 5% of national budgets for the water and sanitation sector and 0.5% of GDP per annum for sanitation and hygiene programmes.
- Mobilise new sources of funding and innovative finance by supporting matchmaking with a special focus on climate resilient, blended public-private finance, and gender transformative approaches.
- Strengthen institutional regulation for water investments, create incentives and penalties for increased water efficiency across multiple industries to lead water stewardship efforts, biodiversity, and ecosystem protection.
- Use ODA to de-risk water investments and leverage larger funding streams