African leaders have agreed to a roadmap that will pave the way to improved water and sanitation investment on the continent.
The Cape Town Declaration on Africa Water Investment was adopted at the inaugural Africa Water Investment Summit.
Leaders at the summit, being held from 13 - 15 August 2025 in Cape Town, committed to scaling up domestic public and private finance for water investments, including mobilising resources through national budgets and innovative financing mechanisms.
The summit, held under the auspices of the African Union (AU), the Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), and the Republic of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, brought together African leaders and other global leaders to advance water security and climate resilience.
“We commit to call for the reform of the multilateral financial institutions, taking into consideration the urgent need for accelerated investment in the water and sanitation sector, priority given to Africa to bridge the water investment gap. Deploy de-risking tools where they add real value -- particularly in underserved rural and peri-urban areas, fragile and conflict-affected states, and for nature-based solutions,” the declaration reads.
The summit was held in the context of South Africa's chairship of the the G20, with leaders committing to scaling up domestic public and private finance for water investments.
This includes mobilising resources through national budgets and innovative financing mechanisms.
African leaders also committed to raise the profile of water projects to drive sustainable economic growth and improve people’s health, nutrition and prosperity across the continent; recognising that water investments can reduce the impact of climate change and build resilience.
The leaders further committed to call on governments and development partners to work together and secure significant investments, including public and private finance, in increasing water security and access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
They also committed to further request the African Union Commission to support Member States and Regional Economic Communities in developing project pipelines to mobilise resources, including climate finance.
The called for the prioritisation of public benefit and local ownership, particularly in areas where water services remain a critical human right and development enabler.
"[We] call upon the international and regional financial institutions in Africa to prioritise financing water and sanitation investment pipelines, including innovative financing mechanism,” the declaration reads.
Roadmap and accountability
The Heads of State commended South Africa’s G20 Presidency for launching the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, describing it as a legacy initiative to advocating for water investment at the highest diplomatic levels.
They called for the Declaration to be included in the outcomes of South Africa’s G20 Presidency and for G20 leaders to support water as a core investment priority in reimagining of multilateral finance.
They also called upon the 2026 UN Water Conference co-hosts, the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, to anchor the Declaration into the event’s preparatory process.
The leaders agreed to convene African Water Investment Summits every four years on a regional rotational basis, coordinated by the African Union Commission.
They further requested South Africa, in its capacity as the G20 Presidency, to present the Declaration to the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2026 for endorsement.
The declaration was adopted on Tuesday, 13 August 2025, at the African Union - Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit in Cape Town. – SAnews.gov.za
