African Union / AIP Water
Investment Summit 2025
South Africa, August 2025
About The Summit
The African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit 2025 will be convened in August 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. The Summit will be convened by the Republic of South Africa, African Union Commission, AU-Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa and the African Union Development Agency – NEPAD. It will be hosted in the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, aligning with its priorities of rapid and inclusive economic growth, poverty and hunger eradication, and climate sustainability.
Why This Summit Matters
Africa faces a US$30 billion annual water investment gap. This Summit will mobilize investments in climate-resilient water and sanitation projects, ensuring water security, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent.
By leveraging South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the Summit will:
Facilitate increased access to climate finance for water security and resilience
Showcase bankable water and sanitation projects to potential funders and investors.
Promote policy and regulatory reforms for an enabling investment environment.
Strengthen partnerships between governments, private sector, and development partners.
Key Objectives
The Summit aims to:
Mobilize financial commitments towards Africa’s water investment needs.
Advocate for improved access to finance for water and sanitation projects.
Strengthen governance and accountability in the water sector.
Showcase a pipeline of investment-ready projects to funders and investors.
Promote legal and regulatory reforms to enhance water investments.
The Summit will also lead to the preparation of the Summit Declaration, which will be presented to:
G20 Leaders through South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
African Union decision-making bodies.
The 2026 UN Water Conference (co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE).
Summit Format
The Summit will take place over three days, featuring:
Day 1: High-Level Opening & Thematic Discussions
Opening plenary with keynote addresses.
Parallel sessions across three thematic areas aligned with the Summit objectives.
Day 2: Boardroom Sessions & Investment Matchmaking
Exclusive boardroom sessions connecting project owners with investors.
Matchmaking sessions between governments, development partners, and private sector stakeholders.
Day 3: Leaders Forum & Presidential Changemakers Awards
Heads of State and finance leaders in a high-level policy dialogue.
Presidential Water Changemakers Awards, recognizing outstanding leadership in water investments.
Presidential Water Changemakers Awards
The Changemaker Awards are a global initiative that aim to recognise high-level commitment and leadership for climate-resilient water investments, and showcase the most promising climate-resilient innovations with the greatest potential for scale, replication, and further investment to support a water-secure world.
The Presidential Water Changemaker Awards recognize global leaders and heads of state for their commitment to climate-resilient water investments.
In 2023, H.E. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana at the time, presented six Presidential Water Changemaker Awards at the UN Water Conference in New York, recognizing the following leaders
H.E. Macky Sall
Senegal
H.E. Hage Geingob
Namibia
H.E. Mark Rutte
Netherlands
H.E. Jakaya Kikwete
Tanzania, Former President
H.E. Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia
H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi
President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council
Partnerships & Sponsorships
Collaborating Partners
Strategic input, co-funding, and speaker nominations
(by invitation)
Sponsorship Packages
Tailored options to support the Summit
Exhibition Packages
Showcase innovations in water investments
(limited space available)
Dissemination & Outreach Partners
Strategic input, co-funding, and speaker nominations
(by invitation)
Background & Policy Context
In December 2024, South Africa’s President, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the G20 Presidency theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability”—placing Africa’s development needs at the forefront.
This is the first-ever G20 Summit hosted in Africa, reinforcing the need for climate finance, water security, and sustainable development.
Investment in water and sanitation is linked to achieving most of the Sustainable Development Goals, growing a prosperous, equal society, and securing a climate-resilient future. Climate-resilient water security is aligned with South Africa’s G20 Presidency theme.
The AU-Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) was adopted in 2021 to transform Africa’s water investment landscape, supporting the AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022-2032).
The AIP is backed by the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, led by the African Union, to mobilise high-level political commitment and investments for the AIP.
The AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, co-chaired by the Governments of Senegal and Namibia, with alternate Co-Chair H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, supported the AU in publishing Africa’s Rising Investment Tide and Africa Water Investment Action Plan in 2023, with guidelines for AU Member States, their development partners, and the private sector on how to mobilise an additional US$30 billion per year towards climate-resilient water and sustainable sanitation in Africa by 2030.
To help mobilize the additional resources for water investments in Africa, the AU and the High-level Panel launched the Mind the Gap – Invest in Water campaign during the 78th United Nations General Assembly in 2023 aiming to:
- Close the US$30 billion annual water investment gap.
- Strengthen governance, financing, and data systems in Africa’s water sector.
The AU-AIP Water Investment Summit will be convened under the AIP as a high-level platform to help mobilize the additional resources for water investments in Africa.
Join us at the AU-AIP Water Investments Summit
Be part of the movement to mobilize finance, drive policy reforms, and secure a water-resilient future for Africa.
- For partnerships, sponsorships, or exhibition opportunities, contact Mamohloding Tlhagale: mamohlodingt@wrc.org.za.
- For media inquiries contact Teresa Chirwa-Ndanga: teresa.chirwa-ndanga@gwpsaf.org