The following address was given by HE Jakaya Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chair: Global Water Partnership Africa Coordination Unit, at the closing ceremony of the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal on 25 March 2022. The address followed the formal announcement of the International High-Level Panel on Water Investment for Africa by HE Macky Sall, President of Senegel, at the same event.

The Government of Zanzibar has signed a bilateral agreement with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for EURO 660,000 as part of support to the Zanzibar Water Investment Programme.

An International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, which draws representatives from current and former Heads of State as well as other global leaders, has been launched at the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal.

When sitting and former Heads of State come together to mobilise billions of dollars for water investments in Africa, it cannot be business as usual for the water and sanitation sectors.

The President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, on 11 March 2022 formally launched the Zanzibar Water Investment Programme, which will mobilise over USD665.5million between 2022-2027 towards securing clean and sustainable water supply for the island’s population and fast-growing economy.

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has formally launched a first of its kind for Africa scorecard to track progress in mobilisation of investments towards water security during its 7th annual conference on the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) in Nairobi, Kenya, 1-4 March 2022.