Cape Town Summit Sparks Global Momentum for Africa’s $30 Billion Water Investment Drive

By Shingirai Vambe

The sun rose over Table Mountain as motorcades snaked through Cape Town’s streets, ferrying world leaders, ministers, and diplomats to a summit that many believe could shape Africa’s future. Inside the sleek halls of the Cape Town International Convention Centre, a palpable sense of urgency filled the air.

For three days, from August 13 to 15, the city played host to the AU–AIP Water Investment Summit 2025, a gathering unlike any other in recent memory. More than 1,700 delegates, including 20 African Water Ministers, Heads of State representatives, investors, and academics, came together with one shared concern: the continent’s deepening water crisis.

Africa faces a staggering USD 30 billion annual water financing gap, a figure that represents not just a statistic but a looming threat to livelihoods, economies, and peace. Yet, by the Summit’s conclusion, leaders had identified USD 10–12 billion in preliminary annual financing for projects across the continent, with expectations of more pledges to come through a newly launched online investment portal.

It was a turning point, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, who presided over the event under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, knew it. Standing at the podium, his voice carried conviction.

“This Summit is a landmark moment not only for Africa but for the global movement for access to safe water for all. If we rise together, water can become not just a means of survival but a driver of economic transformation, innovation, and peace.”

His words set the tone for what would become a rare convergence of politics, finance, and vision, all revolving around one of humanity’s most basic needs.

Central to the gathering was the signing of the Cape Town Declaration on Africa Water Investment, a bold statement of intent that called for scaling up investments, strengthening governance, and demanding accountability in a sector long plagued by underfunding and neglect.

“This summit has been more than a gathering,” said H.E. Moses Vilakati, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment. “It has been a call to action, a platform for transformation, and proof of Africa’s leadership in climate-resilient water security and sanitation.”

The message was clear: Africa would no longer wait for solutions from abroad. It would set its own agenda, demand financing on fair terms, and hold itself accountable for progress.

Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency–NEPAD, pushed the message further, calling for a Presidential Champions Initiative for WASH Access in Africa, aimed at mobilizing political will and ensuring leaders deliver bankable solutions.

For three days, the Summit’s corridors hummed with quiet negotiations and bold promises. Delegates darted between breakout sessions, while ministers from across the continent huddled over policy blueprints and investment pitches.

The host, Minister Pemmy Majodina, South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, stressed that this moment was more than symbolic, “We were inspired by Africa’s Water Vision 2025. We identified governance, finance, capacity, and data gaps as central themes requiring urgent attention. This Summit consolidates Africa’s position ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, and Africa will speak with one voice.”

The timing could not have been more significant. With South Africa holding the G20 Presidency and global attention on climate resilience, Cape Town became the stage for a powerful narrative: Africa is not merely a victim of water insecurity; it is a leader in shaping solutions.

Perhaps the most groundbreaking announcement came with the launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, described by President Ramaphosa as a “premier high-level platform” to unlock finance, track commitments, and align global action.

Among those joining the Council are Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, both known for their bold voices on climate and development.

“These are not mere committees,” Kikwete said in his acceptance remarks. “They are instruments to mobilize capital at scale and align policy and regulation. The AIP Water Investment Scorecard will help us hold ourselves accountable.”

Retno Marsudi, UN Special Envoy for Water, accepted a role as a Council Champion, calling it a “demonstration of trust” in the UN’s leadership on global water challenges.

Beyond speeches and declarations, the Summit also celebrated action. The Presidential Global Water Changemakers Awards recognized six leaders whose commitments are reshaping water security worldwide:

King Letsie III of Lesotho – for advancing regional water cooperation through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
President Cyril Ramaphosa – for hosting the Summit and launching the G20 Presidential Legacy Initiative.
President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE) – for global leadership in water and climate initiatives.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal – for championing Africa’s voice in water diplomacy.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania – for pledging USD 6 billion in domestic investment by 2030.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia – for launching the Global Water Organisation and G20 Water Dialogues.

The awards, organized by the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO), reflected a broader theme of the Summit: bold leadership is key to transforming Africa’s water sector.

As the Summit wrapped up, delegates filed out of Cape Town’s convention center with renewed purpose. The commitments announced may not yet close Africa’s massive water investment gap, but they represent unprecedented momentum, and a united front.

“This Summit has shown that Africa is not waiting for solutions,” said Alex Simalabwi, CEO of GWPO. “By identifying over USD 10–12 billion in pipelines annually, closing Africa’s investment gap by 2030 is no longer a dream. It is possible.”

Cape Town, known for its water crisis just a few years ago when the city nearly ran dry, became a fitting stage for this moment of hope. Leaders left with a message that Africa’s future, and perhaps the world’s, will depend on how boldly it invests in its most precious resource.