CAPE TOWN – President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for water infrastructure to be elevated to the top of Africa’s political and investment agenda, urging global investors to partner with African nations in addressing the continent’s growing water challenges.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the African Union-African Union Development Agency’s (AUDA-NEPAD) African Water Investment Programme (AIP) Summit in Cape Town on Wednesday, Ramaphosa stressed that water should no longer be treated as a secondary issue in broader infrastructure discussions. Instead, he said, water must take centre stage as a key enabler of socio-economic development and climate resilience across Africa.
“Quite often, when investments take place, water is always relegated to the back. We are now bringing water, an essential process that sustains our lives, to the fore to make sure that water is clearly put on the investment agenda,” Ramaphosa said to an audience of African leaders, development experts, and private sector stakeholders.
Ramaphosa Urges Shift in Political Priorities
Ramaphosa emphasized that water is not just a development issue, but a political one. He urged African governments to place the provision of water and sustainable water infrastructure at the highest levels of their political and strategic planning.
“Water is a fundamental human right. It must be part of the highest level of planning on our continent. We cannot allow water to continue being an afterthought,” the president said.
The summit’s goal is to accelerate investments in water security and sanitation across Africa through partnerships between governments, private investors, and international financial institutions. The African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit is part of a broader strategy to mobilize at least $30 billion annually to meet Africa’s water and sanitation goals by 2030.
Ramaphosa welcomed the launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investment, which aims to expand the Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) into a global water investment platform. This initiative is expected to support African countries in developing bankable water projects and attracting private capital.
“The launch of the global outlook council is a significant step forward. It allows us to scale Africa’s water investment platform to a global level, strengthening our capacity to ensure water security and sustainable development,” Ramaphosa explained.
He added that while Africa has made strides in securing funding for infrastructure in sectors like energy and transport, water continues to lag, despite being one of the most pressing issues facing millions across the continent.
Ramaphosa also tied water infrastructure investment directly to climate action, noting that Africa is among the hardest-hit regions by climate change, with droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall increasingly disrupting livelihoods, agriculture, and food security.
“Climate change is worsening our water crises. From the Sahel to southern Africa, communities are facing the consequences of poor water management and underinvestment. We must act now,” he said.
He called on development finance institutions, climate finance bodies, and the private sector to align their funding strategies with Africa’s water needs and climate adaptation goals.
Reinforcing the human rights dimension, Ramaphosa stressed that access to clean water is not only a basic human right but also essential to education, public health, and economic empowerment.
“Water is life. Without it, our children cannot learn, our hospitals cannot function, and our economies cannot grow. This is not just about infrastructure—it’s about dignity and development,” he declared.
In South Africa alone, the government has outlined ambitious plans to modernize ageing water systems, reduce non-revenue water losses, and improve water access in rural and underserved communities. The country, like many others, is battling with water scarcity driven by rising demand, ageing infrastructure, and climate volatility.
In closing his remarks, President Ramaphosa urged both African governments and international investors to treat water investment not just as a moral imperative, but as a strategic priority with enormous economic potential.
“Let us work together to build a continent—and a world—where water is abundant, accessible, and protected. Let us make water investment the cornerstone of Africa’s growth,” Ramaphosa said.
The AU-AIP Water Investment Summit continues this week with high-level panel discussions, investment forums, and commitments expected from development banks and regional governments.
Source- EWN
