12th AFRICAN REGIONAL FORUM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ARFSD-12)
High Level Pre-event on Shaping Africa’s Priorities and Common Position on Water for 2026 and Beyond
Statement
By
Mr. Claver Gatete
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and
Executive Secretary of ECA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
27 April 2026
H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, AUC,
Ms. Kumbuso Phiri, President, Youth WASH Ambassadors, Zambia,
Mr. Matthias Naab, Director, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa,
Mr. Abdoulaye Coulibaly, Director, Governance and Economic Reforms, AfDB,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Welcome to this important pre-event on Africa’s priorities and common position on water for 2026 and beyond, convened ahead of the 12th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.
We meet at a time of slowing growth, intensifying climate shocks, rising geopolitical tensions and mounting pressure on natural resources – conditions that place water at the center of both risk and opportunity.
Globally, progress on water and sanitation remains off track.
Billions still lack safely managed services, and climate change is making water more unpredictable – more scarce in some places, more destructive in others.
In this context, it is clear that water is no longer just a social issue; it is an economic, environmental and security imperative.
And while these global trends are concerning, their implications for Africa are even more profound.
So, where does Africa stand?
The continent is endowed with vast water resources, yet over 400 million Africans still lack access to even basic drinking water, and nearly twice that number lack basic sanitation.
Meanwhile, over 60% of Africa’s land lies within transboundary river basins, making cooperation not a choice, but a necessity.
This paradox is not just a challenge; it is a call to rethink how we value and manage water.
To do so, we must first change how we see water.
Water is not a stand-alone sector; it is a super connector.
It underpins agriculture, which employs the majority of our people; it powers energy systems; it sustains industry; and it determines the quality of life in our cities.
Few areas are as critical as the climate–irrigation nexus, where climate variability is already reshaping water availability, and where efficient water use serves not only as an adaptation measure, but as a strategic lever for food security, resilience and economic transformation.
As your own discussions highlight, water is foundational to productivity, resilience and structural transformation.
Encouragingly, we are already seeing what this shift looks like in practice.
In North Africa, countries like Morocco are integrating water management into renewable energy systems, improving efficiency while reducing emissions.
Across parts of West Africa and the Sahel, irrigation investments are transforming agricultural productivity and strengthening food security.
However, despite these encouraging signs, these gains remain uneven and far from sufficient.
Too often, water is undervalued in our planning, investments are uncoordinated and we continue to speak with many voices when we should be speaking as one.
With the African Union declaring 2026 as the year of water, and with the Africa Water Vision 2063 in place, this point in time is most strategic.
It comes as Africa prepares to engage key global processes, including the 2026 United Nations Water Conference and the High-Level Political Forum.
It is here that we must align so that Africa speaks with clarity and one voice.
The question, therefore, is how we translate this momentum into measurable results.
Allow me to propose five priorities to guide our collective efforts.
First, we must elevate water as economic infrastructure. We must treat water not as a social expenditure, but as a productive asset – central to industrialization, climate resilience, food systems and energy transitions.
Second, we must move from fragmented approaches to integrated planning.
Water, energy, food, ecosystems and climate systems are deeply interconnected and our policies, investments and institutions must reflect this reality.
Third, we must strengthen transboundary cooperation.
With over 60 shared river basins, Africa’s water future depends on collaboration. Shared resources must become shared opportunities for growth and stability.
Fourth, we must scale up financing – both domestic and international.
Public budgets alone are insufficient.
We need innovative financing, stronger partnerships with the private sector and a global compact that delivers concessional and predictable resources at scale.
Fifth, and importantly, Africa must speak with one voice, making this common position the foundation of our collective strategy.
It is how we prioritize, how we mobilize and how we hold ourselves accountable for results.
Excellencies,
The 2026 – 2027 cycle offers us a strategic window to influence global processes.
So, let me end with this: if water is indeed the thread that connects our economies, our ecosystems and our societies, can we afford to treat it as anything less than central to our development future?
In supporting this journey, strong partnerships and effective facilitation will be essential.
And the Economic Commission for Africa is most committed to support you through rigorous policy research, convening power and technical assistance to turn this vision into reality.
I thank you.