Africa Water Investment Summit Welcomes USD 10–12 billion in Preliminary Annual Investment Pipelines, Global Outlook Council Launched

Friday, 22nd August 2025
The AU-AIP Water Investment Summit 2025, held from August 13 to 15 in Cape Town, South Africa,
brought together over 1,700 delegates, including 20 African Water Ministers, Heads of State and
Government representatives, development banks, investors, bilateral partners, civil society
organisations, academics, and diplomats.
The Summit identified preliminary potential financial
commitments estimated at USD 10–12 billion annually towards project pipelines showcased from
across the continent.
This figure excludes further pledges expected through the new online portal-a
clear signal that Africa’s financing momentum is building.
Presiding over the event under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted
the Summit’s significance:
“This Summit is a landmark moment not only for Africa, but for the global movement for access to safe
water for all. If we rise together, water can become not just a means of survival but a driver of economic
transformation, innovation and peace.”
The Cape Town Declaration on Africa Water Investment in the context of the G20, adopted at the
Summit, reaffirms Africa’s urgent need for investment, noting a USD 30 billion annual financing gap. It
commits to scaling up investments, improving governance, and increasing accountability in the water
sector.
“This summit, convened under South Africa’s historic G20 Presidency, has been more than a gathering;
it has been a call to action, a platform for transformation, and proof to Africa’s leadership in climate resilient water security and safe sanitation.
The Summit Declaration commits us to scaling up investments, improving governance, and increasing accountability in the water sector,” said H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union Commission.
H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas urged Heads of State and Government to move from commitment to
action by delivering bankable water solutions. She proposed the establishment of a Presidential
Champions Initiative for WASH Access in Africa to anchor political engagement, foster transformative
change, and promote peer accountability.
Host Minister Hon. Pemmy Majodina, South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, thanked
investors and partners for their commitments and called for even greater investment to transform
Africa’s water sector.
She noted that the Summit also helped consolidate the position of AU Member
States on water investment in preparation for the 2026 UN Water Conference, to be hosted by Senegal
and the United Arab Emirates.
“Over the last three days, we were all inspired by the Africa Water Vision 2025, which envisions an
Africa where there is equitable and sustainable use and management of water resources for poverty
alleviation, socioeconomic development, regional cooperation and the environment. We identified
governance, finance, capacity and data gaps in the water sector as central themes that require urgent
attention,” said Minister Majodina.
Global Outlook Council Launched
The Global Outlook Council on Water Investments was officially launched at the Summit as a G20
Presidential Legacy Initiative of South Africa.
President Ramaphosa emphasised its mission:
“The Global Outlook Council and the Global Water Investment Platform will serve as the world’s
premier high-level political and investment platform on water. It will track progress, unlock finance,
report annually, and align efforts across the G20, UN, multilateral development banks and the private
sector.”
The Council brings together distinguished global leaders, including Prime Minister Mia Mottley of
Barbados and President Jakaya Kikwete, the Fourth President of Tanzania, who has already accepted
an invitation to serve.
“I commend H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa and President of the 2025 G20, for the launch of the Global Outlook
Council on Water Investments. It is a remarkable G20 Presidential Legacy initiative, and the framing of
a Global Investment Platform to sustain momentum. These are not mere new committees; they are
instruments to mobilize capital at scale and align policy and regulation. Also, it will help track progress
with transparency. Indeed, the AIP Water Investment Scorecard will help us hold ourselves
accountable,” said H.E Kikwete.
The Council will be supported by a group of global leaders serving as Council Champions. H.E Retno
Marsudi, Special Envoy for Water of the UN Secretary-General, accepted this role, stating:
“It is a great honour for me to accept by the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments to be one
of the champions in water investments, a demonstration of trust to the United Nations in our
endeavour in addressing the needs faced by countries and the people on the ground especially in the
water agenda.”
Mr. Alex Simalabwi, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO), who
headed the Summit Secretariat and read the Final Declaration, added:
“The Cape Town Declaration on Africa Water Investment in the context of G20 has demonstrated
Africa’s leadership in shaping a global water investment agenda. By identifying over USD 10–12 billion
in preliminary annual pipelines, closing Africa’s USD 30 billion annual water investment gap by 2030 is
possible. The launch of the Global Outlook Council and adoption of the Declaration mark a turning
point. As lead technical partners for the Summit, GWP will continue to work with governments,
development partners, and the private sector to follow through on these commitments, track
progress, and prepare the ground for the 2026 UN Water Conference.”
Presidential Global Water Changemakers Awards
The Summit also recognised outstanding leadership through the Presidential Global Water
Changemakers Awards, which celebrate governments and leaders driving transformative action in
water investments. The Awards were presented jointly by H.E. President Duma Gideon Boko of
Botswana, invited Chair of the Changemakers Awards, together with H.M. King Mswati III of Eswatini,
invited Patron of the Changemakers.
The 2025 recipients were:
• H.M. King Letsie III of Lesotho – for advancing water security and regional cooperation in
Southern Africa through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
• H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa – for hosting the AU-AIP Africa Water
Investment Summit under South Africa’s G20 Presidency and launching the G20 Presidential
Legacy Initiative: Global Outlook Council on Water Investments.
• H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates – for global
leadership in water and climate, including hosting COP28 and co-hosting the 2026 UN Water
Conference.
• H.E. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal – for co-hosting the upcoming 2026 UN Water
Conference with the United Arab Emirates and championing Africa’s voice in global water
diplomacy.
• H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania – for pledging USD 6 billion in domestic
resources for the Tanzania Water Investment Programme by 2030.
• H.R.H. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia – for launching the Global Water
Organisation (GWO) and initiating the G20 Water Dialogues during Saudi Arabia’s G20
Presidency in 2020.
These honourees were commended for bold commitments that advance water security, mobilise
investments, and inspire global action. The Awards, convened by the Global Water Partnership
Organisation (GWPO) together with the AIP High-Level Panel and K-Water, underscored the spirit of
innovation, leadership, and accountability that defined the Summit.
The AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit 2025 was convened by the Republic of South Africa,
African Union Commission, AU Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), AU-AIP
International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, the African Union Development
Agency – NEPAD, and the Global Water Partnership.
It was hosted in the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, aligning with its priorities of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.
The Joint Secretariat of the AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit 2025 was hosted by the Global
Water Partnership (GWP) in its role as Secretariat of the AU–AIP, providing technical coordination and
support to the convenors.
For Media Inquiries, please contact:
African Union Commission | Molalet Tsedeke | Molalet@africanunion.org |+251 911 630 631
AUDA-NEPAD| Benita Nsabua | benitan@auda-nepad.org | +27 11 256 3635
Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (AIP Secretariat) | Teresa Chirwa-Ndanga | teresa.chirwandanga@gwpsaf.org | +265 999 247 911
RSA Department of Water and Sanitation | Ms Wisane Mavasa |mavasaw@dws.gov.za | +27 60 561
8935 |
Website: AIP Water Investment Summit 2025 – Africa Water Investment Program
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCrhpx
Photo Credit: Joint Secretariat of the AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit 2025
Correction Note
Some international online media reports inaccurately referred to H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, as a confirmed co-chair of the Global Outlook Council
on Water Investments.
We wish to clarify that while an invitation was extended to the UAE Presidency, no confirmation has
been received regarding this role. Media outlets are kindly requested to update their reporting to
reflect this correction.