AU: Africa needs Ksh6.45 trillion a year to achieve water security by 2030

The African Union (AU) has declared that Africa requires approximately Ksh6.45 trillion annually to achieve water security and universal sanitation by 2030, a stark contrast to current spending which ranges from Ksh1.29 trillion to Ksh2.45 trillion. This massive financing gap, estimated between Ksh3.87 trillion and Ksh6.45 trillion, leaves over 400 million Africans without access to basic drinking water and nearly 700 million without adequate sanitation.

The AU's Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, emphasized the continental scale of the challenge, stating that approximately $50 billion annually would be needed to achieve water security and sanitation by 2030. Water is now being positioned as a key economic investment rather than merely a social service, with AU Commissioner Moses Vilakati describing it as a "strategic economic asset" linked to dignity, public health, productivity, and climate resilience.

The AU's 2026 theme, "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063," places water investment at the heart of the continent's development agenda. The Africa Water Investment Programme aims to close the annual financing gap through domestic resources, blended finance, climate funds, and private capital.

However, implementation remains a challenge, necessitating stronger project preparation, risk-sharing mechanisms, and greater mobilization of domestic resources. This push for water investment aligns with broader calls for a new approach to investment in Africa, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres advocating for changes to the global financial system and greater support for Africa's economic potential.