South Africa is taking a major step toward addressing Africa’s water security and investment needs, as Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina prepares to host a crucial meeting for the upcoming AU-Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Investment Summit 2025.
The preparatory meeting is set to take place on the sidelines of the International Water Association (IWA) Congress in Cape Town. It will lay the groundwork for the main summit scheduled for August, where leaders and experts will seek to mobilise at least $30 billion annually for climate-resilient water and sanitation projects across the continent.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the initiative aligns with South Africa’s G20 Presidency priorities, focusing on economic growth, climate sustainability, and securing development financing.
Government representatives, international development agencies, private sector investors, and civil society organisations will gather to refine the summit’s key objectives, thematic focus areas, and expected outcomes. The discussions will also serve to strengthen bilateral partnerships and secure financial commitments to drive Africa’s water investment agenda.
Several high-profile figures are expected to participate in the summit, including former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who chairs the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) and co-chairs the Africa Water Investment Panel, alongside other eminent leaders. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is also a member of this panel.
Other key delegates include Arif Alkalali from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Water, Environment, and Agriculture, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Resettlement Anxious Jongwe Masuka, Zambia’s Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Collins Nzovu, and Senegal’s Minister of Water and Sanitation Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, who also serves as the President of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW).
