Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Suwelim, participated in a session titled "African Water Vision 2063: From Vision to Implementation" at the Eighth Strategic Meeting on Gender in the New El Alamein City. The session aimed to discuss the implementation paths of the African Water Vision 2063, its financing mechanisms, and the role of continental cooperation in transforming priorities into executable programs and projects.
The session was part of several African events hosted by Egypt, coinciding with preparations for the Eighth Coordination Meeting of the African Union and Regional Economic Communities, scheduled to take place in El Alamein City on October 4, 2026. The meeting will be attended by representatives of African institutions, regional economic communities, civil society organizations, women's and youth networks, and development partners.
Minister Suwelim emphasized that the session comes at an important time for the African continent, given that the African Union has placed water and sanitation at the top of its development agenda for 2026. He highlighted the importance of water in achieving economic development, food security, public health, and enhancing resilience to climate change and regional integration.
The African Water Vision 2063 and its policies represent a continental framework for achieving water security and enhancing the resilience of African countries. The vision aims to provide safe sanitation services for all, with water being directly linked to citizens' lives, health, and livelihoods, as well as supporting economic development, stability, and adaptation to climate pressures.
Minister Suwelim stressed the need to transition from the vision stage to actual implementation, noting that the first implementation plan for 2026-2033 represents a pivotal step in transforming continental goals into measurable programs, investments, and outcomes. Egypt is actively participating in preparing the plan, focusing on enhancing governance and institutions, improving water and sanitation services, and increasing water use efficiency.
Egypt is working in coordination with the African Water Facility (AWF), the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), the African Union, African countries, and development partners to transform continental priorities and strategies into financeable and implementable projects. The country is also set to host the 25th meeting of the AWF's board of directors in November 2025, which will launch the AWF's strategy for 2026-2030.
The strategy provides a framework for supporting African countries in preparing water and sanitation projects, mobilizing necessary financial resources to transition them from the planning stage to implementation. Egypt will continue to enhance bilateral cooperation with African countries, particularly Nile Basin countries, by implementing projects that respond to local community needs, including drilling groundwater wells and establishing rainwater harvesting facilities.
Key points
- Egypt is actively involved in preparing the first implementation plan for the African Water Vision 2063.
- The plan aims to transform continental goals into measurable programs, investments, and outcomes.
- Egypt is working with international partners to support African countries in achieving water security and enhancing resilience to climate change.
