NNN to push for action on Africa’s water crisis

Loide Jason
NEW YORK – President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will use her position as co-chair of a high-level water investment panel at the United Nations tomorrow to push for stronger international financing and practical action to address Africa’s water challenges.
Nandi-Ndaitwah arrived in New York on Saturday ahead of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where she is expected to participate in several high-level engagements, including the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa and Global Cooperation Event on Monday.
The event will focus on mobilising commitments towards the 2026 UN Water Conference and strengthening investment in Africa’s water sector.
Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said the President would call for commitments that go beyond declarations and result in actual implementation.
“The President will call for commitments that move beyond declarations and lead to implementation,” Mbambo said.
He said Africa needs accessible climate financing, stronger public-private partnerships and increased support to develop bankable water projects.
The call comes as Africa faces a major financing gap in the water and sanitation sector, with the African Union estimating that an additional US$30 billion needs to be invested annually by 2030 to meet the continent’s water and sanitation needs.
The 2025 AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit in Cape Town also identified a preliminary investment pipeline of between US$10 billion and US$12 billion annually. (African Union).
Mbambo said water investment is particularly important for Namibia as the country works towards the objectives of its Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
“For Namibia, water investment is also central to achieving the objectives of NDP6,” he said.
According to Mbambo, NDP6 prioritises climate-smart and water-efficient agriculture and aims to increase the proportion of Namibia’s food requirements produced locally from 60% to 80% by 2030.
“Reliable water supply is therefore essential to increasing agricultural production, strengthening food security and building resilient communities,” he said.
The President is also expected to use Namibia’s own experience with water scarcity to highlight the wider challenges facing water-stressed countries across Africa.
“Water is a fundamental human right. It is not a luxury. Without water security, we cannot achieve food security, good health, human dignity or sustainable development.”,” Mbambo said.

He said this principle is central to Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all.
The presidential spokesperson said Namibia, is one of the driest countries in Southern Africa, water security remains a national priority, particularly as communities continue to face the effects of drought and climate change.
Mbambo pointed specifically to communities in the Kunene Region, which have experienced severe effects from prolonged drought and climate change.
He said Nandi-Ndaitwah would therefore use her role as co-chair to advocate for greater political attention, investment and international cooperation in addressing Africa’s water challenges.
The Presidency also highlighted Namibia’s role in the global water agenda, saying the country is now hosting the Global Water Partnership.
“We worked hard to secure this, and it demonstrates how seriously Namibia takes the issue of water security,” Mbambo said.
He said the role also reflects Namibia’s commitment to helping develop practical and sustainable solutions for Africa.
The New York discussions are expected to build on the investment pipeline identified at the 2025 AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit and support the continental target of mobilising an additional US$30 billion annually for climate-resilient water security and sustainable sanitation by 2030.
Mbambo said the discussions would also focus on advancing the US$10 billion to US$12 billion investment pipeline identified at the 2025 summit.
The African Union said the 2025 summit generated preliminary potential financial commitments estimated at US$10 billion to US$12 billion annually from development banks, investors, bilateral partners and governments.
However, Mbambo cautioned that it would be premature to announce specific pledges before Monday’s discussions.
“It would be premature to announce specific pledges before the discussions have taken place,” he said.
He said the event is instead expected to advance existing investment opportunities, mobilise partnerships ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference and build support for the Global Water Investment Platform.
“By co-chairing the panel, Namibia is demonstrating its readiness to help lead the search for practical and sustainable solutions to Africa’s water challenges,” Mbambo said.

He said the ultimate measure of success should be whether the commitments and investments translate into improved access to water.
“Ultimately, success must be measured not only by the commitments made, but by whether clean and reliable water reaches the people who need it most,” Mbambo said.
Pic : Water UN
Caption : Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo
Photo: File

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