NAIROBI, Kenya, 10 December 2025-/African Media Agency(AMA)/-At the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid, nearly 50 ministerial-level delegates worldwide gathered to discuss integrating water, sanitation, and climate action goals. For Africa, achieving universal access to climate-resilient water and sanitation services by 2030 faces a $30 billion annual investment gap, part of a global $130 billion shortfall reported by Sanitation and Water for All (SWA).
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Political and Institutional Integration
The High-Level Leaders Compact – Madrid Commitment to Action outlines five priorities for Africa, emphasizing the need to embed water, sanitation, and hygiene into national adaptation plans and development strategies. Current statistics show that no African sub-region is on track to meet SDG 6.5 targets for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) by 2030. Ministers are urged to implement drinking water safety guidelines at the policy level to ensure coherent governance and accelerated progress.
Inclusive, Rights-Based Services
Women, children, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and displaced communities remain the most vulnerable. Despite progress since the 1990s, 1 in 4 people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack safely managed drinking water, and 2 in 5 lack safely managed sanitation (UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Report). Implementing water safety awareness campaigns and using high-quality disaggregated data can ensure investments target the communities that need them most.
Resilient Systems and Risk Management
Climate-driven displacement affects millions in East Africa. Proactive measures such as incorporating climate and environmental risk assessments, promoting nature-based solutions, and restoring ecosystems are essential. African ministers are called to support sustainable water supply systems that can withstand droughts, urban migration pressures, and environmental shocks.
Sustainable and Innovative Financing
Currently, public-private partnerships contribute only 3% to Africa’s water sector investment. Scaling up financing via green and blue bonds, results-based financing, and well-structured public-private partnerships is critical. Such measures support sustainable water supply systems while aligning with the High-Level Leaders Compact for Water Security and Resilience.
Political Leadership and Accountability
Water and sanitation must remain top policy priorities. African ministers are encouraged to strengthen political leadership, enhance cross-government collaboration, and ensure predictable and efficient investments. Sub-Saharan Africa loses an estimated 5% of GDP annually due to poor sanitation and unsafe water. Strong governance, combined with drinking water safety guidelines and water safety awareness campaigns, will help safeguard populations and promote economic and environmental sustainability.
Source link: SWA – 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting
Countries including Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, Ghana, Uganda, and The Gambia are actively implementing these priorities through civil society networks, UNICEF, and SWA partnerships.
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)
