The AU–AIP Africa Water Investment Summit 2025, held in Cape Town from 13–15 August, delivered a landmark moment for Africa’s water agenda with the launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investment and the appointment of H.E. Retno Marsudi, United Nations Special Envoy on Water, as one of its Champions.
Launched by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current G20 President, the Council will serve as the world’s leading political and investment platform on water. It will track progress, unlock financing, and align efforts across the G20, UN, multilateral development banks and private sector to transform water from a “crisis sector” into an “opportunity sector.”
The Council will be co-chaired by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, and Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Alternate co-chairs include Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed.
Accepting her role as Champion, Marsudi delivered a compelling address that placed water at the centre of global prosperity and stability. Investing in water infrastructure in Africa is not an act of charity but a strategic imperative for global prosperity, sustainability, and equity, she emphasised.
She underscored Africa’s potential as a global powerhouse in climate resilience, agriculture and energy security, and committed to advancing water investments guided by the Triple-A principle — Accessibility, Affordability, and Availability. “The true measure of success lies in what we deliver next,” Marsudi said, urging governments, financiers and civil society to convert ambition into action.
The Summit also featured the high-level session “Financing Africa’s Water Future: Catalysing Investment and Partnerships on the Road to the 2026 UN Water Conference”, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, who will jointly lead the 2026 UN Water Conference. Partnering with AUDA-NEPAD, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC), the session explored innovative approaches such as blended finance, concessional loans and de-risking strategies to bridge Africa’s US$30 billion annual water infrastructure target.
By combining bold leadership with practical financing models, Cape Town has positioned the Global Outlook Council as a catalyst for unlocking investment and scaling solutions. With Retno Marsudi championing its mission, the Council is set to accelerate progress towards water security in Africa — and deliver lasting impact for the world.
