The choice of the theme is driven by the recognition of the importance of laying the building blocks for Africa to achieve the SDG 6 as well as other inter-linking SDGs connected with water resources management and improved sanitation service delivery. It also represents the quest in the continent to place emphasis on matching commitments and plans with concrete actions with impact on the ground. It highlights Africa’s undaunted focus to achieving the Agenda 2063, the continent’s global strategy to optimize use of Africa’s resources for the overall benefit of all.
The event will be organized under four sub-themes:
• Achieving Universal and Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation for All.
• Ensuring Water security and Climate Resilience.
• Strengthening Productive Wastewater Management and Improved Water Quality.
• Improving Policy, Financing and Monitoring.
GWP will convene/ co-convene a number of technical sessions, such as a session on “River basin organizations and benefits of transboundary water cooperation; Project preparation for investments in Water, Climate and Development in Africa; and “The key to sustainable growth: mainstreaming climate resilient infrastructure”
Additionally, the 10th AMCOW General Assembly will hold after the Africa Water Week. The 10th General Assembly of AMCOW is the governance meeting that will involve all Ministers of Water in Africa. Through this meeting, decisions are made as well as the adoption of Dar es Salaam declaration. This event will therefore inform and influence the decision making at the Ministerial level.
The main objective of the Africa Water Week is to reaffirm a political commitment at the highest level for creating platform to discuss and collectively seek solutions to Africa’s water and sanitation challenges.
The event which attracts over 1000 participants from governments, regional institutions, international partners, the private sector, the scientific community, civil society, NGOs, youth and the media from all over the world, and in particular Africa is held biennially. The Africa Water Week series began in Tunis, Tunisia in 2008. Since then, the conference has been held in Midrand, South Africa in 2009, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2010, Cairo, Egypt in 2012 and Dakar, Senegal in 2014 and this year will be in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.