Remarks by: H.E Moses Vilakati

Commissioner, ARBE

High Level Side-event on AU AIP Water Investment

• Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa,
• Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia,
• Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia,
• Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Alternate Co-Chair of the AU-AIP High-Level Panel
• Excellencies, Representatives of Heads of State and Government,
• Excellencies, Ministers responsible for Water and Sanitation,
• Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
• Distinguished Representatives of Development Partners,
• Representatives of International and Continental Organisations,

1. It is an honour, on behalf of the African Union Commission, to welcome you to this High-Level Side Event of the Africa Water Investment Programme, convened on the margins of the African Union Summit. Your presence here, reflects our shared understanding that water and sanitation are foundational to Africa’s development, resilience, and economic transformation.

2. I wish to express sincere appreciation to the Republic of South Africa, the African Union Commission, and the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa for convening this timely engagement, and to our development partners for their continued support in advancing Africa’s water and sanitation investment agenda.

Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

3. Africa continues to face a significant financing gap in the water and sanitation sector, estimated at approximately USD 30 billion annually. This gap constrains progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 and weakens climate adaptation, public health, food and energy security, and inclusive economic growth.
4. The AU-AIP serves as the critical, AU-endorsed mechanism to bridge this divide, ensuring water security for 250 million people and fostering climate-resilient economic growth.

5. In this context, I commend African Heads of State and Government for elevating water and sanitation to the highest political level through the designation of 2026 as the African Union Theme of the Year: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve Agenda 2063.” This decision rightly positions water as a strategic investment in Africa’s people, economies, and future resilience.

6. I also acknowledge the leadership of the Republic of Zambia in hosting PANAFCON-3, and the leadership of the Republic of South Africa in hosting the inaugural AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit under its G20 Presidency.

Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

7. The AU-AIP Summit confirmed that Africa is not short of priority projects. More than 80 investment-ready projects from 38 Member States were presented, alongside investment pledges estimated at USD 10 to 12 billion annually. Our collective task now is to ensure that these commitments are translated into financed projects and tangible outcomes on the ground.

8. This Side Event provides an important opportunity to advance that objective. It also marks the launch of two key tools: the Guidelines for Developing National Climate-Resilient Water Investment Programmes and the AU-AIP PIDA Water Investment Scorecard, which will support Member States in strengthening investment readiness and tracking progress.

9. As an African proverb wisely reminds us, “The best time to plant a tree was yesterday; the second-best time is today.” Investing decisively in water and sanitation today is essential to securing Africa’s prosperity, stability, and resilience tomorrow.

10. In closing, I reaffirm the African Union Commission’s full commitment in working with Member States, partners, and the private sector to turn ambition into action and investment into impact.

I thank you for your kind attention