On 25 March 2022, during the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal, H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union formally launched the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa.
The International High-Level Panel will drive global political mobilization and international engagement to mobilise investments to meet the socio-economic needs of the continent and Sustainable Development Goal 6 water related targets.
The International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa will mobilise investments for implementing the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) and closing the existing water investment gap in Africa, which is estimated at US$11-20bn annually by 2030.
The High-Level Panel will develop a Report and investment action plan, with pathways to mobilise $30 billion/year by 2030 to implement the AIP and close the water investment gap in Africa.
The High Level Panel report will be be launched during the UN 2023 Water Conference.
The convenors of the Panel appointed three Co-Chairs of the Panel
- H.E. Macky Sall – President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union
- H.E. Mark Rutte – Prime Minister of The Kingdom of the Netherlands, in his capacity as co-host of the UN 2023 International Decade for Action on Water for sustainable development.
- H.E. Hage Geingob – President of the Republic of Namibia in his capacity as host country of the Presidency of AMCOW, and
- An alternate Co-Chair, H.E. Jakaya Kikwete – Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, in his capacity as chair of the board of GWPSA-Africa Coordination which is the host of the Secretariat for the convenors of the panel.
The work of the Panel will be supported by a Steering Group, Core Group and Expert Advisory Group comprising Sherpas/Advisors to the Panel members and experts from the technical working group developing the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard.
Mohammed Diatta, Sherpa to High-Level Panel Co-Chair H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, delivers the Declaration during Stockholm World Water week 2022 on behalf of Hon. Serigne M. THIAM.
This Sunday, on 28 August 2022, over 40 experts met here in Stockholm, invited by the African Union Commission, and Co-Chaired by the Republic of Senegal and the Netherlands. The Experts adopted the Terms of Reference for the Experts Advisory Group.
I welcome the experts and thank you for accepting to support the high-level panel to achieve its mandate.
I hereby declare the inauguration the Technical Expert Advisory Group at this Stockholm World Week 2022 to support the High-Level Panel.
The High-Level Panel Expert Advisory Group will be led by the Panel Sherpas/Advisors to the High-Level Panel Co-Chairs.
The High-Level Panel Technical Expert Group shall contribute to the development of the African Union water policy and AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard and overall AIP implementation through contribution to relevant follow up actions and recommendations
The composition of the High-Level Panel Expert Advisory Group shall be made up of the Panel Sherpas/Advisors, experts invited by the African Union Commission and the Republic of Senegal, and representatives from the over 30 organisations supporting the development of the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard.
The High-Level Panel Expert Advisory Group shall be coordinated by the African Union Commission and African Union Development Agency-NEPAD and supported by the Panel Convenors secretariat and AIP Technical Support Unit hosted by GWPSA-Africa which is led by the Alternate Co-Chair to the High-Level Panel.
In conclusion, I congratulate the African Union Commission for leading the process to establish the Expert Advisory Group for the panel building on the foundation of the structures established by AUDA-NEPAD for development of the AIP PIDA water investment scorecard.
I call on the African governments, development partners, development finance institutions, and stakeholders assembled here today to seize the opportunity presented by the International High-Level Panel to elevate the agenda of water to the highest levels of decision making.
A peaceful, prosperous, and water-secure Africa – as outlined in the Dakar Declaration, a “Blue Deal for water and sanitation security for peace and development” – is within our reach.
Thank you.
Download the declaration as a PDF document.
Photo credit: Tazzie Chayinda for the Government of Zambia