The Alternate Co-Chair of the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, has urged accelerated financial closure and implementation of water projects across the continent, noting that Africa already has viable, bankable initiatives awaiting funding.

Addressing participants during the High-Level Breakfast side event of the African Union and the Africa Water Investment Programme, co-hosted by South Africa and the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Dr. Kikwete said Africa has made significant progress in establishing the necessary institutional architecture to support water investments.

“Africa has pipeline projects. Africa now has institutional architecture rooted on the continent. What we must now accelerate is financial closure and implementation,” he said. “Financiers say they want bankable projects, and we already have eight bankable projects. So now, we are waiting for the resources to be able to implement those projects.”

Dr. Kikwete also extended congratulations to Namibia following the successful conclusion of a headquarters agreement to host the Global Water Partnership (GWP) in Windhoek. 

The agreement establishes Namibia as the new primary seat of the GWPO headquarters, relocating it from Stockholm, where it had been based for the past 30 years.