Water Research and Innovation as an enabler towards universal access to clean drinking water and dignifiedsanitation for all.Mobilising Commitments for Implementing the African Union High-Level Panel Investment Action Plan towards the AUAfrica Water Investment Summit and UN 2026 Water Conference in the context of G20 Presidency of Republic of South Africa.Development Agendas are designed to drive a sustainable future addressing key systematic barriers to sustainable development, such as inequality, lack of access to basic human rights, unsustainable consumption patterns, weak institutional capacity, and environmental degradation. On 8 November 2022, the African Union formally inaugurated the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, at COP 27 in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. Comprising Heads of States and global leaders, the objective of the Panel is to mobilise high-level commitment and resources for the
Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) that wasadopted by the AU Heads of States and Governments in February 2022.In September 2023, AU Heads of States committed to accurate implement to of the AIP as part of the
African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change.
During the UN 2023 Water Conference, the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the International High-Level Panel launched a report that outlines how to mobilise an additional US$30 billion per year by 2030 towards all water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The High-Level Panel, the AUC launched the Africa Water Investment Action Plan on 2 December 2023 during COP28 Dubai, outlining 5 priority actions for countries and their partners to mobilize the additional US$30 billion/year needed to close Africa’s water investment gap.
Convened by the Government of South Africa’ Water Research Commission (WRC) under the Department of Water and Sanitation in collaboration with the African Union and AIP High-Level Panel, the session will review the progress in mobilising invests for the AU High Level Panel Investment Action Plan, outline a road map towards the AU Africa Water Investment Summit and UN 2026 Water Conference in the context of the upcoming G20 Presidency of Republic of South Africa. This will include establishment of a working group to support implementation of the roadmap.
The Session will also review previous United Nations recommendations on how to accelerate progress to achieve access and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, as well as achievement of multiple other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). High-level recommendations by the HLPW included, among others: understanding, valuing, and managing water to provide a foundation for broader integrated water management; an integrated approach at local, country, and regional levels, including building partnerships and international collaboration at the global level. Five accelerators were identified namely, Governance, Financing, Data and information, Capacity development and innovation.
According to UN World Water Development Report 2024, None of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) six targets appear to be on track, and so is the continental and regional development agendas and commitments. As of 2022, 2.2 billion people were without access to safely managed drinking water while the situation with respect to safely managed sanitation remains dire, with 3.5 billion people lacking access to such services. Cities and municipalities have been unable to keep up with the accelerating growth of their urban populations. Regions and countries can achieve development agendas through improved policies, inclusiveness, action oriented and strategic partnerships.
- To facilitate joint learning from global experiences and good practices with regards to the implementation of development agendas.
- Outline a road map towards the AU Africa Water Investment Summit and UN 2026 Water Conference in the context of the upcoming G20 Presidency of Republic of South Africa.
- Share experiences of how transformative Water RDI programmes are designed, resourced, and implemented to support the transition to a sustainable future.
- Explore how to effectively resource and finance the African and global water system of innovation.
- Highlight successful cases studies on how water research and innovation has contributed to strengthening service delivery related to basic human rights.
- Engage African leaders on their role and contribution in setting, resourcing, and implementing future development agendas.
Programme Director: Dr Mamohloding Tlhagale, Head of Partnerships and Business Development, Water ResearchCommission, South Africa
9:00-9:30 Arrival and tea9:30-9:40 Opening and Welcome RemarksDr Mamohloding Tlhagale,WRC; Mr Declan Kirrane, ISCIntelligence
9:40-9:50 Opening AddressMinister or DG Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), South Africa
9:50-10:00 Opening Plenary: Setting the scene and taking stock of lessons learned in mobilisation of water investments, the implementation of global development agendas, and the levers for change into the future.
Keynote 1: Driving a more rapid developmental transition in Africa: What have we learned about the levers for change?
Dr Thomas Kariuki, CEOScience for Africa Foundation
Keynote 2: A global water RDI Agenda for thefuture.
Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, CEO, Water Research Commission
10:00-10:40 Facilitated Panel: Mobilising Commitmentstowards the AU Africa Water Investment Summit andUN 2026 Water
Conference in the context of G20 Presidency of Republicof South Africa.
Facilitator: Mr Harsen Nyambe, Director of Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union.Co-Facilitator: Mr Alex Simalabwi, CEO of the AIP HighLevel Panel Secretariat and Executive Secretary, GWPSA-AfricaTowards the AU Africa Water Investment Summit and UN 2026 Water Conference in the context of G20 Presidency ofRepublic of South AfricaPanelists:
H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, Alternate Co-Chair, AU– AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investment for Africa,Board Chair-GWPSA- Africa
H.E. Josefa Leonel CorreiaSacko, Commissioner for RuralEconomy and Agriculture AfricanUnion Commission.
Hon. Penny Majodina, Minister ofWater and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa
Ms. Shaima Gargash, Special Climate Envoy, Director of Energy &Sustainability, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Dr. Mohamed Diatta, Sherpa to the President of Senegal on HighLevel Panel, Co-Host of the UN 2026 Water Conference
Henk Ovink, Executive Director,Global Commission on Economic of Water
10:40-11:00 Q&A and input from participants and Summary by AUC Harsen Nyambe, AUC.11:00-11:50 Q&A and engagement with participants 11:50-12:30 Future sustainable and demand driven water s
