By Kaundjire Humbu
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has rallied African and international investors to help unlock an additional US$30 billion (about N$486.8 billion) in annual water investment by 2030, warning that political commitments must now translate into bankable projects and tangible infrastructure.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the call in New York on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where she chaired the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa and Global Cooperation.
The scale of the challenge is underscored by the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme, which has developed an estimated US$10 billion to US$12 billion (about N$162.3 billion to N$194.7 billion) in annual water investment pipelines, against the continent’s target of mobilising an additional US$30 billion (about N$486.8 billion) each year by 2030.
“We must therefore translate political commitment into valuable projects and tangible results,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She stressed that water investment is critical not only to improving access to water, but also to food security, poverty reduction, livelihoods, economic development and climate resilience.
The New York engagement brought together African and international partners to examine ways of mobilising finance for the continent’s water sector ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.
Former Tanzanian President and panel co-chair Jakaya Kikwete presented the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa Progress Report 2021–2026, which takes stock of the panel’s work and outlines measures needed to address Africa’s water financing gap.
Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted opportunities under the Sixth National Development Plan, including water purification, aquifer recharge, raw-water distribution and seawater desalination.
These projects form part of Namibia’s efforts to strengthen water security while creating opportunities for public and private sector partnerships.
She also highlighted Namibia’s growing role in international water cooperation, including Windhoek’s hosting of the Global Water Partnership Organisation Secretariat.
Namibia is further expected to host the 2028 International Network of Basin Organisations World Basin Summit, providing another platform for international cooperation on water security and shared water resources.
The New York engagement comes as countries prepare for the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, which is aimed at accelerating implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation.
The discussions provide an opportunity to position projects such as desalination, aquifer recharge and water purification within the wider continental effort to strengthen water security.
With Africa targeting an additional US$30 billion (about N$486.8 billion) in annual water investment by 2030, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s message was that commitments must now move from declarations to funded projects and measurable results.
