At its 39th Ordinary Session held recently in Addis Ababa, the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government adopted “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063” as the official theme for 2026.
The theme aligns with Agenda 2063, Africa’s long-term blueprint for inclusive growth, peace, and prosperity, underscoring water and sanitation as strategic drivers of socio-economic development, public health, and climate resilience. AU officials say the emphasis reflects growing recognition of persistent water challenges across the continent, including inadequate access to safe drinking water and sanitation for millions of Africans.
The session also reaffirmed member states’ commitments to integrated water resource management and climate adaptation strategies, noting that effective water systems support agriculture, energy production, industrialisation, and ecosystem sustainability. AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf noted water’s central role as a collective resource that must be preserved and leveraged for peace and cooperation among states.
The theme builds on earlier continental efforts, including preparatory dialogues and the Africa Water Vision 2063, a framework for equitable and sustainable water management adopted by AU member states. Civil society forums and pre-summit events emphasised the need for policy coordination, investment in infrastructure, and inclusive solutions that involve youth, women and marginalised communities.
Leaders at the summit acknowledged water scarcity’s links to public health burdens, economic productivity losses, and climate-driven drought and flooding. They called for strengthened policy frameworks, enhanced financing mechanisms and regional cooperation to manage shared rivers and water bodies.
The Assembly also elected President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi as the AU Chairperson for 2026, with leaders underscoring the need for collective action to advance continental priorities, including peace, governance reform, and Africa’s representation in global governance forums.
The AU’s adoption of the 2026 theme signals an elevated focus on water and sanitation as foundational elements for achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and reinforcing sustainable development across Africa.
