With $7.5 billion investments leveraged to date, the AIP is transforming the investment outlook for climate resilient water security and sustainable sanitation in Africa.
The African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit 2025 convened from 13 to 15 August 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa.
The Summit convened by the Republic of South Africa, African Union Commission, AU-Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa and the African Union Development Agency – NEPAD. It was hosted in the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, aligning with its priorities of rapid and inclusive economic growth, poverty and hunger eradication, and climate sustainability.
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H.E. Retno Marsudi Accepts Role as Champion for the Global Outlook Council on Water
At the AU – AIP Africa Water Investment Summit 2025, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13 – 15 August 2025, H.E. Retno Marsudi, United Nations Special Envoy on Water, delivered a powerful address affirming her commitment to advancing Africa’s water agenda. H.E....
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On 6 September 2023, African Heads of State and Government committed to support implementation of the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) as part of the Nairobi Declaration on climate change.
On 7 February 2021, during the 34th ordinary session of African Union Summit, the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government adopted the AIP transboundary projects as part of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa – Priority Action Plan 2 under the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme.
The AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022-2032) recognizes the AIP as a flagship initiative for transforming water systems.
Our 2030 impact targets
$30 billion
Leveraged towards climate resilient water and sanitation investments
250 million
People benefit from resilient water investments and economic opportunities
4 million
Indirect jobs for vulnerable, poor youth and women.
1 million
Direct jobs created through climate resilient water and sustainable sanitation
Join Africa’s Rising Investment Tide
Africa’s Water Investment Gap is Growing
Delivery of water investments across Africa is below target to meet the continent’s growing needs. It is estimated that at least $30 billion additional finance needs to be mobilised annually by 2030 to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6 target on water and sanitation. Currently, only US$10-US$19 billion is invested each year.
The water investment requirement is even larger for Africa to achieve the Africa Water Vision 2025, which requires an annual investment of US$64 billion/year, according to the African Development Bank.
The AIP is designed to narrow Africa’s water investment gap
Establish a High-level Panel at Heads of States level, strengthen political commitment and leadership
Assess the need for an International Blended investment Mechanism to leverage public- private partnership finance and investments
Promote gender equality, climate resilience and empowerment of women and girls in water investments
Develop and implement a water investment scorecard to enhance mutual accountability, transparency, efficiency and track progress in mobilisation of water investments
Develop capacity to formulate and implement regional, transboundary, and national water investment programmes to narrow the water investment gap
Enabling environment for water governance and capacity to access finance, enhance efficiency and sustainability of investments in water, sanitation and environmental protection improved
TARGETED INTERVENTIONS
International High-Level Panel
The AIP mobilises high-level political commitment and leadership for water security and sanitation investments, peace, and security.
AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard
The AIP enhances transparency and accountability in mobilisation of investments, track progress, set benchmarks, identify bottlenecks, and take action to meet Africa’s water investment and financing needs.
International Blended Investment Mechanism
The AIP promotes access to blended public-private finance for water security investments and adoption of innovative financing instruments; sovereign wealth funds, pensions, guarantees, private equity, climate finance, and others.
Climate Gender Resilience
The AIP promotes gender equality and empowerment of women, and foster integration of gender into institutional and decision-making processes of water investment programmes and implementation.
Regional, Transboundary, National Investment Programmes
The AIP develop water security, sanitation investment programmes and promote integration of water into economic planning and implementation of SDG 6 related targets on energy, food, ecosystems, health, and others.
Stakeholders
AIP TARGET BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES
Since 2020, the AIP has leveraged over $7.5 billion in investments towards the 2030 target of US$30 billion annually in additional finance. Over 40 countries have initiated relevant actions to transform the investment outlook for climate-resilient water security and sustainable sanitation:
Benin
Cameroon
Botswana
Burundi
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo Brazzaville
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Eswatini
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mali
Morocco
Mozambique
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zanzibar
Zambia