WHAT:       The African Union- AIP Water Investment Summit 2025 is being convened in the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency and will advance efforts towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth and social advancement.

The Summit will support the achievement of South Africa’s G20 priorities of rapid and inclusive economic growth, eradication of poverty and hunger, and climate sustainability, by accelerating investments into climate-resilient water and sanitation.         

South Africa’s G20 Presidency will pursue progress on cross-cutting issues through the establishment of three dedicated task forces in the following areas: (a) Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Employment and Reduced Inequality; (b) Food Security; and (c) Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance and Innovation for Sustainable Development. South Africa will also build on G20 initiatives undertaken in recent years, including the water track that focuses on improving access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

WHEN:     The AU-AIP Water Investment Summit will be held it two formats:

• 13-14 August 2025: Ministerial and partners meeting
• 15 August 2025: Leaders meeting

TIME:           09:00 -17:00 (GMT+2)

WHERE:        Cape Town, South Africa, (Cape Town International Convention Center)

WHO:                 The African Union- AIP Water Investment Summit 2025 is convened by the Republic of South Africa, the African Union Commission, the AU-Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), the AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, and the African Union Development Agency – NEPAD, within the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency.  

Objective:

The main objective of the Summit is to accelerate investments into African water and sanitation programmes by promoting a pipeline of investible projects, an enabling environment for landmark investment partnerships, and transformative financing.

Specific objectives include:

1. Showcase a pipeline of investible water and sanitation projects meeting criteria set by the African Union Commission, to prospective investors and funders.
2. Advocate for African countries, and other developing countries, to access finance for water and sanitation, on more favourable terms and conditions.
3. Mobilise commitments for the long-term strengthening of the enabling environment and bankability of projects and service providers.  
4. Enable the prioritization of continental and country-level platforms that match funding sources to investment opportunities seeking finance, including more flexible and transparent project development facilities. 
5. Promote reforms to the legal and regulatory environment that facilitate water stewardship amongst commercial and other water users. 
6. Strengthen data and information systems for enhanced decision-making, as well as for better tracking of sector progress.

key expected outputs of the Summit:

1. Summit Declaration by African Leaders on the Mobilisation of Water Investments to close the investment gap for the continent.
2. Commitments of multi-billion-dollar water investments, showcasing successful match-making of investment deals across the continent.
3. Announcements on significant new partnerships and initiatives focused on enhancing the sustainability of water investments.
4. Continental roadmap for implementing the declarations, pledges and announcements.
5. The 2025 Water Changemaker Awards.

Participants:

The African Union–AIP Water Investment Summit 2025 will bring together African Heads of State, global investors, ministers, private sector leaders, and development institutions in a unified call to close Africa’s US$30 billion annual water investment gap.

ackground Context:

The Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) was adopted by African Union (AU) Heads of State in 2021 as part of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), as an initiative to transform the investment outlook for water and sanitation in Africa.

The AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022-2032) recognises the AIP as a flagship programme for transforming water systems.

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. The twin pivotal documents provide guidelines for AU Member States, their development partners, and the private sector on how to mobilise the required additional US$30 billion per year towards climate-resilient water and sustainable sanitation in Africa by 2030.

In September 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, African leaders together with the African Union Commission and the High-Level Panel, formally launched the Mind the Gap – Invest in Water campaign. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness, influence change, and ultimately – prompt the strategic transformation that can result in the mobilisation of increased investments towards climate-resilient water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa. Commitments and resources mobilised will contribute to closing the water investment gap, implementation of the AIP High-Level Panel Investment Action Plan, and the UN 2023 Water Action Agenda in Africa.

For further information contact:

Dr. Kidanemariam Jembere Technical Advisor for Water, Climate and Gender Equality, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), African Union Commission Email: KidanemariamJ@africa-union.org

For media enquiry:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke |Communication and Media Officer| Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | Email: MolaletT@africanunion.org

Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission,   E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int  I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

More information on the official website of the AU-AIP Water Investment Summit: https://aipwater.org/aip-water-investment-summit-2025/