Unequal Access to Water in Africa: The African Union’s Commitment
Despite water being an essential resource for life worldwide, equitable access is alarmingly scarce, particularly in Africa. This disparity is not lost on the African Union (AU), which is fervently working to address this issue. The AU recently convened its annual summit from February 11 to 15 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing on a significant theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
The Africa Water Vision 2063
As part of its mission, the AU introduced the Africa Water Vision 2063 and its accompanying policy framework. This initiative underscores the importance of water not just as a resource but as a crucial element in transforming Africa into a global powerhouse by the year 2063. Central to this vision is the recognition that access to clean water is pivotal for eradicating poverty and hunger while promoting industrialization and climate resilience across the continent.
João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola and Chairperson of the AU, highlighted the pressing need for comprehensive and sustainable responses to the water crisis: “Despite the abundance of water resources on the continent, we continue to see countless situations where African citizens are deprived of safe access to drinking water and adequate sanitation.”
Water Resources and Current Issues
Africa is home to 9% of the world’s freshwater, making it the fourth-largest supply on the planet. Yet, as reported by UNICEF, in 2022, an alarming 418 million people lacked basic drinking water services. Furthermore, 779 million did not have access to basic sanitation, and 839 million lacked hygiene facilities. This stark reality paints a picture of inequality and inefficiency in managing a life-sustaining resource.
Although progress has been made over the last two decades — for instance, Malawi has reduced untreated wastewater by 80%, and Senegal allocates at least 10% of its budget to water and sanitation services — the AU recognizes that substantial work remains. The 2024 Africa Water and Sanitation Sector Monitoring Report indicates that half of the continent’s population still struggles to access safely managed drinking water, with public defecation persisting as a reality for one in seven people.
The Investment Gap in Water and Sanitation
Despite the critical nature of this issue, only $10 to $19 billion is invested each year in water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa. To thrive and catch up with global water access standards, the AU has identified an annual investment gap of approximately $30 billion needed to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal six targets, which aim to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, stressed the transformative power of water investment. “Water investment is a catalyst for transformation,” he asserted. It enriches food security, drives industrial growth, and reduces health care costs while also creating jobs for a burgeoning population.
Initiatives for Improved Water Access
To address these pressing challenges, the AU adopted the Continental Africa Water Investment Program (AIP) in 2021 as part of the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). This initiative aims to prioritize addressing the water access gap, enhance transparency and accountability in financing, and develop innovative strategies to bolster resource sovereignty.
The AIP encourages African leaders to embed water funding into economic planning, promote gender equality in decision-making, and encourage innovative financing measures that offer sustainable solutions.
The Call for Representation and Partnership
Despite representing 54 of the 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly and accounting for about 18% of the world’s population, Africa remains the only region without permanent representation in the U.N. Security Council. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres poignantly remarked, “Whenever decisions about Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be at the table.”
This call for representation underlines the interconnectedness of water access with broader political and social issues. Lourenço noted that achieving an abundant, self-reliant, and stable continent requires a multifaceted and collaborative approach.
In advancing the Africa Water Vision 2063 and the AIP, African nations stand at a pivotal moment. By successfully addressing disparities in water access, the continent not only hopes to improve public health and economic conditions but also to foster greater autonomy and resilience against external pressures.
