About the African Union (AU)
The African Union was established by the Heads of State and Government, with a view, inter alia, to accelerate
the process of integration in the continent to enable it to play its rightful role in the global economy while
addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they are by certain negative
aspects of globalisation. The vision of the African Union is that of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful
Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena.” The Agenda 2063 The
Africa We Want privodes a roadmap towards realising the AU vision. The African Union Commission is the key
organ playing a central role in the day-to-day management of the African Union. Among others, it represents
the Union and defends its interests; elaborates draft common positions of the Union; prepares strategic plans
and studies for the consideration of the Executive Council; elaborates, promotes, coordinates and harmonizes
the programmes and policies of the Union with those of the RECs; ensures the mainstreaming of gender in all
programmes and activities of the Union. The Commission is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
About the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)
The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) was formed in 2002, primarily to promote cooperation,
security, social and economic development and poverty eradication among member states through the
effective management of the continent’s water resources and provision of water supply services. In 2008, at
the 11th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Sharm el-Sheikh, Heads of States and
Governments of the African Union agreed on commitments to accelerate the achievement of water and
sanitation goals in Africa and mandated AMCOW to develop and follow up an implementation strategy for
these commitments. The organs and structures of AMCOW will serve the Working Group on Water and
Sanitation of the African Union’s Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture; Rural Development; Water
and Environment.
FOREWORD
Within the framework of ongoing activities to translate into reality the vision and aspirations of Agenda 2063:
the Africa we Want, effective water resources management cannot be overemphasised. Environment and
natural resources, particularly freshwater, are critical to the productivity of sectors such as agriculture,
industry and fisheries and – therefore – the release of Africa’s development potential, as well as sustaining
growth and development. Specifically:
Access to clean water is essential for healthy human communities. Freshwater availability is a key
determining factor in efforts to ensure food and energy security as well as for increasing industrial
production. The quality of freshwater ecosystems has a direct impact on the wellbeing and productivity
of the population and, therefore, on the sustainability of economic growth and development at a
national level. The benefits of investing in improved water resources management and access to clean
water and sanitation therefore remain clear and germane.
Land constitutes the most important factor of production and survival for the peoples of Africa. About
70% of Africa’s labour force is involved in agriculture, which in turn contributes to over 25% of the GDP–
a percentage that is substantially higher in some countries. It is noteworthy that water use in the
agricultural sector stood at 275 km3 in 2013, accounting for about 80% of the total water withdrawals in
Africa.
Forests, woodlands and wetlands are valued for the services they provide, particularly as important
catchments for Africa’s freshwater resource systems, regulating climatic conditions, as well as
sustaining ecosystems and biodiversity. They also provide fuelwood, which is the principal source of
energy for the majority of the population on the Continent.
However:
Africa’s population is growing at a rate that is much higher than the global average, while at the same
time rapid urbanisation is observed across the continent.
Africa’s environmental and natural resources are faced with severe degradation, in part due to
fragmented sectoral approaches to their governance. Almost universally, the responsibility for various
aspects of their development, utilisation and management is shared by numerous government
ministries, private sector actors and local administrations that do not necessarily have coordination
mechanisms in place. The outcome is often inefficient use and inadequate protection of these valuable
natural assets.
The agricultural sector and the rural economy, on which the majority of Africa’s populations depend for
their livelihoods, are under threat from negative impacts of climate change and increasing climate
variability. Projections which show a general increase in average temperatures for Africa are predicted
to result in increased rainfall variability and incidences of extreme weather conditions. Changing rainfall
patterns will negatively affect cropping systems and will increase the occurrence of such diseases as
malaria. Growing uncertainty with regards to rainfall and shifting crop water requirements threaten
Africa’s largely rain-fed agricultural sector, while risks and uncertainties to economic productivity and
political stability are growing with the increasing evidence of water-borne diseases, droughts, floods
and landslides.
The above, in turn, has direct implications for the fight against poverty, and the extent to which the targets of
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be achieved – not to mention aspirations for water, food and
energy security. As many of the negative impacts are anticipated to operate through water, making
fundamental changes in the way Africa’s water and related resources are utilised and managed is an
important step towards climate change adaptability and mitigation, water-related disaster risk reduction and
management and sustainable environment and natural resources management.
It is crucial then that, as all Member States of the African Union intensify efforts to achieve the Africa Water
Vision by 2025, close linkages are established in the formulation and implementation of policies and activities
in the water, environment, agriculture and energy sectors. Such an approach will enhance integration and
coherence in the pursuit of a wide range of linked thematic priorities, leveraging resources for accelerated
progress and providing a mechanism for coordination, mutual support and deepening the impact of
interventions. This is key, not only to achieving sustainable use of water, land, forests, wetlands and fisheries,
but also – in more general terms – to advancing the well-being of Africa’s people, environment and economy.
It is against this background that Member States, as well as implementing agencies and cooperating partners
at the various levels, are invited to work together to deliver prioritised actions and key interventions of the
African Water Resources Management Priority Action Programme. Of particular importance is the need to
make the necessary investments to actualise both the Africa Water Vision 2025 of:
“Africa where there is an equitable and sustainable use and management of water resources for poverty
alleviation, socio-economic development, regional cooperation and the environment;
and the African Union’s Vision of:
“an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force
in global arena.”