African Union Declares Water Security and Sanitation Top Priority for 2026 Summit

ADDIS ABABA – The African Union (AU) has officially designated water security and sanitation as a primary focus ahead of its 2026 summit, reinforcing that reliable access to these resources is critical for public health, economic growth, and the continent’s long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063.

The upcoming summit will be held under the theme of “assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation to achieve the goals of agenda 2063”. Harsen Nyambe, the Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the African Union Commission, emphasized that these issues are “transformational enablers” that underpin essential sectors including education, industry, and agriculture.

“Water is one of the catalysts for development,” Nyambe stated in an interview regarding the announcement. He noted that whether the focus is on industrialization, energy generation, or health, all sectors are intrinsically connected to water security.

Nyambe also highlighted the critical nature of sanitation, drawing parallels to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the cultural tendency among Africans to wash hands helped during the crisis, but reinforced that “we need water to wash our hands” and sanitation systems to ensure the population remains healthy and economically productive.

According to union officials, the AU has already launched a suite of frameworks aiming to address persistent challenges such as water scarcity, pollution, and inadequate infrastructure. While Nyambe confirmed that there is political commitment at the highest levels and that policies are moving “very fast,” he admitted that financing these ambitious programs remains a significant hurdle,.

“The areas that will need strengthening is issues of financing,” Nyambe said.

To bridge this gap, the AU is calling for urgent collective action from all stakeholders. Nyambe stressed that the private sector and international community are expected to contribute investments, while governments must provide an enabling environment. He added that local community cooperation is equally essential for these goals to be realized,.

This renewed emphasis signals a strategic push by the African Union to transform high-level policies into tangible improvements for the millions of Africans who still lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.