South Africa

The AU-AIP Water Investment Summit 2025, held from 13 to 15 August in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa, mobilised preliminary potential financial commitments estimated at a conservative USD 10–12 billion annually. These investments, pledged by development banks, investors, bilateral partners, and governments, are directed towards the project pipelines showcased at the Summit from across the continent.

The Information and Communication Directorate, in a collaborative effort with the UNESCO Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA, are working towards developing the first draft of the AU Continental Framework on Information Integrity, Digital, Media, and Information Literacy (MIL).

H.E Lerato, opened her speech by highlighting the persistent issue of energy poverty that affects millions across Africa, with women and girls bearing the disproportionate brunt—often spending hours collecting firewood and charcoal, resulting in health hazards and hampering education and economic productivity.