UAE, Senegal vow to convert Africa's water commitments into real projects

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Senegal have pledged to transform Africa's water commitments into tangible projects at the 2026 UN Water Conference set to take place in Abu Dhabi. Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability in the UAE, Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, emphasized the importance of shifting from making pledges to delivering measurable results during a speech at the Africa Water and Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium in Kigali.

Balalaa highlighted that the UAE and Senegal, as co-hosts of the UN Water Conference, would collaborate with governments, development finance institutions, investors, businesses, and innovators to strengthen project pipelines, build institutional capacity, and introduce necessary reforms to attract financing at scale. He stressed that water is not only a development imperative but also an economic one, offering an immense opportunity.

Balalaa pointed out that climate change, population growth, urbanization, and rising demand are intensifying pressure on water systems, making it essential to unlock investment in Africa's future. He mentioned several UAE-backed initiatives, such as the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, the recently launched Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform, and a 2024 financing agreement between the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the Government of Rwanda to enhance water transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Balalaa emphasized that the success of the conference should be measured by the tangible outcomes achieved after the delegates return, rather than the commitments made during the event.