The African Union (AU) has officially announced a call for papers for the 2026 edition of its flagship publication, AU ECHO. This year's edition is centered on the continental theme for 2026: "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063."

The 2026 theme directly supports the aspirations of Agenda 2063, Africa's blueprint for inclusive and sustainable development. By prioritizing water security, the AU aims to address its critical role in public health, food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. As the AU Commission Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, emphasized, sustainable water management is essential for agricultural transformation, energy production, infrastructure expansion, and climate resilience.

The AU ECHO 2026 seeks to compile insightful, evidence-based articles that critically examine the progress, challenges, and potential for implementing AU decisions related to water sustainability and sanitation systems. The publication welcomes contributions that analyze initiatives at institutional, national, and continental levels, and strongly encourages authors to support their arguments with references to AU decisions, declarations, and documented actions.

This call for papers comes at a pivotal moment, following the 39^th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in February 2026, where water and sanitation were elevated as a central pillar of the continent's development agenda. The summit underscored the urgency of the issue, with H.E. Mr. Moses Vilakati, the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment noting that "over 400 million people in the African continent lack water for their daily livelihoods" and "over 800 million still lack basic hygiene services."

The call for submissions is open to a diverse range of contributors, including AU institutions and organs, AU employees, AU Member States, African academic institutions, think tanks, civil society organizations, industry experts, and the wider African public. The African Union encourages researchers, academics, policymakers, practitioners, and thought leaders to share innovative ideas, evidence-based research, and practical insights that can contribute to advancing and shaping Africa’s water and sanitation agenda.

Detailed submission guidelines, including deadlines and formatting requirements, are available on the official African Union announcement page: 
https://au.int/en/announcements/20260609/call-papers-au-echo-2026-edition-year-water-sustainability-theme-assuring

The deadline for submissions is July 10, 2026.

This is a unique opportunity for contributors across Africa and beyond to engage with critical issues and help advance the continent's journey toward a water-secure and prosperous future, as envisioned in Agenda 2063.

About the AU ECHO:

The AU ECHO provides a platform for the 55 Member States of the African Union, and African citizens to profile the successes of Africa, and to impart knowledge and experiences borne from African led initiatives, based on the instruments and decisions of the African Union. It is published on an annual basis by the Directorate of Information and Communication of the AUC with content largely related to the AU’s Theme of the Year. The AU ECHO is distributed to AU Heads of State and Government, Ministers, senior policy makers’ delegates, and media during the AU Summits and other substantive meetings and conferences as well as to offices of the African Union. Distribution is also made to development partner organisations and consulates / embassies in Addis Ababa. Soft copies are posted online on: https://au.int/en/documents/1148  

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For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Faith Adhiambo | Communication Officer, Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission | E-mail ochiengj@africanunion.org
2. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africanunion.org

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