Published: December 12, 2025
The world is racing against time to achieve universal access to climate-resilient water and sanitation services by 2030. However, a massive $130 billion annual financing gap threatens this goal, according to Sanitation and Water for All (SWA). In Africa alone, the yearly shortfall is at least $30 billion, making targeted action urgent.
In October 2025, nearly 50 ministerial-level representatives gathered in Madrid for the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting, a key global forum to align water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and climate goals. For African leaders, the gathering offered a vital chance to present the continent’s realities ahead of COP30 and the 2026 UN Water Conference and to help shape a five-pillar global framework for climate-resilient WASH systems.
Below are five critical WASH and climate priorities for Africa, outlined in the “High-Level Leaders Compact – The Madrid Commitment to Action” and supported by compelling data.
1. Political and Institutional Integration
Embed WASH and climate priorities into national adaptation plans and development strategies.
Africa still lags in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). In 2018, 71% of African countries fell into medium-low to very low IWRM implementation categories (UNEP). By 2024, progress remained insufficient: no African sub region was on track to meet the SDG 6.5 target of “Very High” IWRM (91–100%) by 2030.
This stagnation signals a governance gap that cannot be fixed through isolated projects. Ministers must therefore:
- Integrate water, sanitation, hygiene, and climate mandates directly into national adaptation plans.
- Strengthen institutional coherence across ministries and agencies.
- Align development strategies with climate-resilient WASH priorities.
Political integration is crucial to accelerate progress and change the current trajectory.
2. Inclusive, Rights-Based Services
Use data to identify and reach the most vulnerable groups, including women, children, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and displaced communities.
Despite decades of progress, access remains unequal:
- One in four people in Sub-Saharan Africa still lack safely managed drinking water.
- Two in five people lack safely managed sanitation (UNICEF/WHO JMP).
Women, girls, and children continue to bear the heaviest burden.
To close the gap, governments must:
- Collect and use high-quality, disaggregated data.
- Identify underserved communities and customize interventions to their needs.
- Promote transparency and community participation in WASH planning.
Generalized solutions are no longer enough; rights-based measures are essential.
3. Resilient Systems and Risk Management
Integrate climate and environmental risk assessments and invest in nature-based solutions.
Climate change is transforming Africa’s water landscape:
- In East Africa, 2 million people face drought and displacement due to conflict (SAPA, 2025).
- Earth.org estimates climate impacts could displace up to 700 million people by 2030, up from 400 million today.
Urban centers like Nairobi are already strained by climate-driven migration.
Resilience requires proactive investments:
- Incorporate risk assessments into all levels of planning.
- Restore ecosystems and implement nature-based solutions.
- Address environmental degradation, which fuels displacement and insecurity.
Only by tackling root causes can governments protect vulnerable populations and stabilize high-risk regions.
4. Sustainable and Innovative Financing
Mobilize domestic and international funding through green/blue bonds, PPPs, and results-based mechanisms.
Africa’s water sector remains predominantly publicly funded:
- 97% of investments come from state-owned enterprises and public entities.
- Public-private partnerships contribute just 3% (World Bank).
To boost financing, ministers should:
- Strengthen investment incentives and develop project pipelines.
- Deploy de-risking tools that reduce uncertainty for investors.
- Align financing mechanisms with the High-Level Leaders Compact to ensure consistency.
With stronger governance and clearer frameworks, PPPs, green and blue bonds, and results-based financing can help close the continent’s $30 billion annual WASH gap.
5. Political Leadership and Accountability
Elevate water and sanitation to the top of national and global policy agendas.
Sub-Saharan Africa loses an estimated 5% of GDP annually due to poor sanitation, water scarcity, and contamination. The High-Level Leaders Compact emphasizes the need for:
Stronger leadership
- Whole-of-government collaboration
- Predictable, efficient investments
- Focus on the most vulnerable populations
Fragmented policies and weak coordination continue to slow progress, highlighting the vital role of ministerial leadership.
After Madrid, Africa’s Commitment to Water Security, Sanitation, and Climate Resilience
Following the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting, African ministers pledged to work with SWA to:
- Track progress through systematic monitoring aligned with national systems and SDG 6
- Strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration
- Promote adaptive learning for long-term resilience
So far, 29 governments have endorsed the Compact, more than half of them African, including Liberia, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and others. Civil society organizations such as ANEW, CONIWAS, and UNICEF have joined in advocating for implementation.
The invitation remains open to more countries to sign on and demonstrate their commitment to achieving water security, sanitation access, and climate resilience, cornerstones of public health, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
About Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)
For 15 years, the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership, hosted by UNICEF, has united governments, civil society, development partners, and the private sector to advance the human rights to water and sanitation. With over 500 partners, SWA promotes political commitment, institutional strengthening, and accountability to deliver lasting results.
For more information on the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM), visit www.sanitationandwaterforall.org/SMM2025
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