Africa / AU-AIP Summit: Over $10 billion pledged to boost investment in water on the continent
The first African Union Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Investment Summit was held from August 13 to 15, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa, securing more than $10 billion in investment commitments for the water and sanitation sector across the continent.
South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, announced the results on Monday, noting that 80 bankable projects from 38 African countries were presented to potential donors and investors. These projects are expected to generate investments estimated at between $10 and $12 billion annually.
Held under the auspices of the African Union, the High-Level Panel on Water Investment, and South Africa’s G20 presidency, the summit brought together 1,690 delegates, including heads of state, ministers, technical and financial partners, and private investors. The event aligned with G20 priorities focused on inclusive growth, climate resilience, and poverty eradication.
In her address, Majodina stressed the urgency of bridging the continent’s annual $30 billion water infrastructure gap. She urged African governments to streamline regulations, strengthen governance, and improve technical capacity and data systems to attract more investments.
For his part, Moses Vilakati, AU Commissioner for Sustainable Environment, described the summit as a “transformative platform,” emphasizing Africa’s growing commitment to water and sanitation systems resilient to climate change.
He also announced that water will be the African Union’s theme for 2026, ahead of the United Nations Water Conference scheduled in Senegal and the United Arab Emirates. The summit builds on COP28, where an ambitious Action Plan was launched to mobilize the $30 billion needed annually to secure Africa’s water future.
