We, the delegates to the High-Level Water Investment Conference, hosted by HE Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, and HE Jakaya Kikwete, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa and Africa Coordination (GWPSA-Africa) Board Chair and Former President of United Republic of Tanzania, under the theme “Transforming the Investment Outlook for Water and Sanitation in Africa ”:
Express our sincere gratitude to the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for the hospitality and for hosting this important gathering.
Recognize the pivotal role that water plays in the development of Africa and the challenges being faced in addressing the water investment gap to ensure provision of access to clean and safe water and basic sanitation.
Note that the Continental Africa Water Investment Program (AIP) was adopted at the 34th African Union Heads of Summit in February 2021 as part of the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa Priority Action Plan 2 (PIDA-PAP 2) in order to transform the investment outlook for water and sanitation as a necessary precondition to closing Africa's water investment gap of US $ 45-US $ 54 billion / year.
Commend ongoing joint efforts by AUDA-NEPAD, AMCOW, AfDB, UNDP, UNICEF, GCA and GWP on a partnership to convene the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments in Africa; to launch the panel aimed at promoting water investments in Africa.
Recognizing the AIP goal of mobilizing US $ 30 billion / annually by 2030; the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard was approved at the 35th African Union Heads of Summit meeting to track progress in water investments and enhance mutual accountability.
Commend, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for the formal launch of the Zanzibar Water Investment Program by HE Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar. The Investment Program was developed by the Ministry of Water, Energy and Minerals (MEWM) in Zanzibar with support from GWPSA-Africa Coordination.
Note that Zanzibar, like many African countries, faces increased water security challenges due to climate change, saltwater intrusion, growing population and increased water demand, heavy dependence on groundwater, aging infrastructure, and an inadequate roll out of the required water infrastructure projects, there is a need to urgently deliver inclusive climate resilient water investment solutions. Further, noting the need to diversify water sources there is need for investments to explore the feasibility of deep-sea underground fresh water (deep sea and submarine aquifers) as an option to enhance climate-resilient water security.
Note, the follow-up work to be done by partners to increase the understanding of the deep sea and submarine aquifers in support of the implementation of the Zanzibar Water Investment Program.
Recognizing, the main goal of the Zanzibar's 2050 Development Vision to transform Zanzibar into an Upper Middle-Income country by the year 2050, and its aspirations that economic growth will stem from tourism, agriculture, industry, and a thriving blue economy.
Note, the need to urgently mobilize US $ 665 million to finance and implement measures to narrow its water investment gap to achieve the Vision 2050, in collaboration with local, regional, and global partners to respond to the increasing water demand as the economy grows and address pressures exacerbated by climate change impacts.
Note that the Zanzibar Water Investment Program supports the implementation of the Vision 2050 towards achieving blue economy and is aligned to the implementation of the Zanzibar Development Strategy (2022-2027). The Investment Program identifies three key investment focus areas 1) Water investments to achieve the SDGs 2) Building resilience through water investments 3) Water governance and institutional strengthening
Acknowledge that the Zanzibar Water Investment Program is the first water program designed under the banner of the Continental Africa Water Investment Program (AIP) which is part of PIDA PAP2 led by AUDA-NEPAD in Africa.
Commend AUDA-NEPAD and partners for the development of the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard as a PIDA instrument to set benchmarks, identify bottlenecks, enhance mutual accountability, and take action to meet investment needs to achieve SDG 6 targets on water and sanitation. The progress on the implementation of the Scorecard will be reported bi-annually to the African Union Heads of Summit.
Further note, that response strategies will be developed to address the identified challenges and bottlenecks working with national governments and partners.
Note, that the key three pillars of the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard 1) enhancing the enabling environment with strong, forward looking, and inclusive governance systems; 2) mobilizing financial resources for various sources and 3) ensuring efficiency and sustainability of water investments. Will be critical elements to address in closing the water investment gap.
Acknowledge the support by partners on accelerating water investments in Africa and supporting the implementation of the AIP-PIDA Scorecard; and welcome support offered by AUDA-NEPAD, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF and FAO; Development Finance Institutions the World Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA); Global Center on Adaptation, International Water Management Institute, GWPO, WaterAid and Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), SADC and other partners.
Commend, SADC for organizing a Climate Finance training for member states in collaboration with WMO, GCF, DBSA and GWPSA.
Affirm, the critical role that will be played by the Continental Africa Water Investment Program (AIP) in mobilizing partners to respond to the Africa water investment gap.
Urge, the AIP Partners to continue collaborating with countries in responding to bottlenecks in transforming the water investment outlook in Africa and support the development of investment programs to urgently mobilize the resources needed to ensure clean water and sanitation for all in Africa.
Commend Zanzibar's efforts to ensure the increased role of the blue economy in promoting socio-economic development through better stewardship of the sea and related resources, entailing improved utilization of maritime and marine resources to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth as well as creating employment opportunities.
We, the Partners take this opportunity to issue this Joint Call to Action to:
- Support transformation of the water and sanitation investment in Zanzibar to narrow the water and sanitation investment gap as part of the post COVID-economy recovery.
- Call upon countries to implement AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard through development of response strategies and investment programs aimed at ensuring adaptation to climate change, climate resilient WASH, combating pandemics, ensuring food security, and
- Support the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar in the implementation of the Zanzibar Water Investment Program (2022 - 2027) with a total budget USD 665 million and ensure sustainable water and sanitation service provision.
- Call upon Partners to mobilize investments to support the implementation of prioritized projects and initiatives in the Zanzibar Water Investment Program and support other countries in the SADC Region and Africa.
- Furthermore, call upon partners to support SADC in efforts to mobilize climate finance for countries.
We take this opportunity to thank the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for their excellent hosting and facilitation of the first High-Level Water Investment Conference in Africa.
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 11 March 2022
Download a PDF of the Communique from the High-Level Water Investment Conference.
This Communique was origionally published on the AIP website here.