By Dikeledi Molobela

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has called for sustained leadership and investment in Africa’s water sector, saying the continent’s development, climate resilience and economic growth depend on closing the water investment gap.

Speaking on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa at a high-level panel on water investments at the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York on Monday, Minister Majodina urged leaders, investors and development partners to turn commitments into concrete investments that improve access to water.

The panel, held under the theme: “Mobilising Commitments towards the 2026 UN Water Conference, the 2030 SDG Agenda and Africa Water Vision 2063”, was convened ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, which will take place in Abu Dhabi from 8 to 10 December.

The conference will bring together governments, development partners, investors and other stakeholders to advance global cooperation on water and accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

In opening her remarks, Minister Majodina conveyed President Ramaphosa’s apology for not being able to attend the UN General Assembly High-Level Week and said the President had asked her to represent him at the roundtable.

Building on Africa’s water investment agenda

Minister Majodina highlighted the work of the African Union-Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP), noting that the initiative emerged from recommendations of the High-Level Panel on Water established in 2016.

The AU-AIP Water Investment Summit held in Cape Town in 2025, during South Africa’s G20 Presidency, brought together governments, investors, development partners and other stakeholders to accelerate investment in Africa’s water sector.

“In 2025, African leaders presided over the AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit, held during South Africa’s G20 Presidency. The summit culminated in the adoption of the Cape Town Declaration on Water Investments and the G20 Leaders’ Declaration, both of which called for scaling up this important initiative through the Global Investment Platform (GIP),” she said.

She said the Global Investment Platform and de-risking mechanisms were intended to mobilise bankable projects, provide blended finance and partnerships with public and private investors, help governments unlock investment at scale, match projects with financiers and strengthen global cooperation on water investments.

80 Projects presented to investors

Majodina said the AU-AIP had identified, packaged and delivered 80 investor-ready projects from the continent, working with AUDA-NEPAD to create matchmaking opportunities between Member States and potential investors.

“The AU-AIP identified, packaged and delivered 80 investor-ready projects from the continent, working with AUDA-NEPAD, for onside matchmaking opportunity, pitched by Member States, as project owners,” she said.

She described the matchmaking process as a “remarkable marketplace” and said the initiative would be sustained and expanded with the objective of making investment in water the norm.

“We are happy to receive the progress of the 10 to 12 billion USD commitment that came out of process,” she said.

Investment critical to achieving SDG 6

Majodina said the African water investment agenda was closely aligned with the objectives of the upcoming UN Water Conference, where South Africa is co-chair of Interactive Dialogue F on Investments for Water.

She called on leaders and partners to maintain momentum towards the December conference.

“As the co-chair of the 2026 UN Water Conference, Interactive Dialogue-F, co-hosted by one of the AIP founding Member States, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and the AIP, continue to request your leadership and handholding as towards the UN Water Conference on the AU-AIP theme, which became theme F of the 2026 Water conference,” she said.

She also returned to a central message from the AU-AIP Summit.

“We further draw wisdom and continue to reflect on one of the key take-home messages that we carried out of the AU-AIP Summit that said: ‘If the world continues to under-invest in water, the world will under-deliver on development, climate resilience, and economic growth’.”

The Minister said adequate and strategic investment in water could help accelerate progress towards SDG 6.

“The flip side of the take home message is that, if the world can invest adequately and strategically in water, we can be assured that the five Interactive Dialogues of the 2026 UN Water Conference can impact and fast track achievement of SDG6.”

Africa calls for leadership at Abu Dhabi conference

Minister Majodina said Senegal, South Africa, Egypt, Zambia and Ghana were representing the continent as co-hosts and co-chairs of the 2026 UN Water Conference.

“Our submission today as member states representing the continent, Senegal, South Africa, Egypt, Zambia and Ghana, in the capacity of co-hosts and co-chairs of the 2026 UN Water Conference. Our prayer request is for our leaders to consider to attending the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference, scheduled for the 08 to 10 December 2026, as Africa needs the envisaged outcomes more,” Majodina said.

She called for continued leadership and action to transform the water ecosystem and improve access for underserved communities.

“Your continued availability flowing from the success of the AU-AIP Water Investment Summit, to assure Investors of your leadership commitment through action to transform the water ecosystem and bring hope to the global citizens particularly the unserved and improve access to water for all at a global scale.

“We look forward to your leadership in Abu Dhabi,” she said.

Originally posted on SAnews.gov.za