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The African SIDS Blue Economy Project, a joint initiative supported by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by UNDP, and executed by the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa, under the leadership of the African Union Commission as the focal custodian of the project, was showcased at the Africa Blue Economy Week taking place at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Africa Blue Economy Week took place from 23 to 25 September 2025.

The African Union Commission, in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Africa, is fast-tracking climate finance readiness across the continent through the AU-AIP GCF Readiness Support Initiative, now being implemented in 15 AU Member States. Over recent months, the initiative has recorded tangible milestones that demonstrate growing institutional capacity, stronger investment preparation, and Africa’s readiness to absorb and deploy climate finance at scale.

The African Union Commission has trained representatives of Ministries of Water from African Union (AU) Member States in developing Climate Resilient Water Investment Programmes and Green Climate Fund Projects. The training which preceded the AU-AIP Water Investment Summit, took place from 11 to 12 August 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.

18 September 2025, Gaborone, Botswana: The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho and with the support of the German Government through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), will host the 11th SADC Multi-Stakeholder Water Dialogue in Maseru, Lesotho, from 29 to 30 September 2025.

On 22 September 2025, the G20 Presidential Legacy-Global Outlook Council on Water Investments will convene a High-Level Consultative Dialogue on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Six African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have officially launched a USD 9 million project to advance sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient blue economies. The initiative was unveiled at a three-day inception workshop held in Mauritius from 4–6 August 2025.

At the AU – AIP Africa Water Investment Summit 2025, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13 – 15 August 2025, H.E. Retno Marsudi, United Nations Special Envoy on Water, delivered a powerful address affirming her commitment to advancing Africa’s water agenda.

Against the backdrop of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the first hosted by an African nation, 2,000 delegates will convene in Cape Town from 13-15 August 2025 for the inaugural AU-AIP Water Investment Summit, a strategic platform to drive water-related investments and reforms. Over 80 transformative water projects from across the continent will be showcased to potential funders & investors, through which possible deals will be signed.

The Government of the Republic of South Africa, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), the AU-AIP High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will host the AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit from 13 to 15 August 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Western Cape.