Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Africa’s deepening water and sanitation crisis has reached a critical threshold, with more than 200 million people still practising open defecation, prompting urgent calls for coordinated continental action.
At the 12th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Claver Gatete, on Thursday warned that water insecurity is no longer a basic service gap but a systemic threat to Africa’s development.
“Water is life, but it is also the economic infrastructure that underpins health, food systems, energy and industrialisation,” Gatete said during a high-level session on clean water and sanitation.
Despite progress since 2015 — with nearly 300 million Africans gaining access to basic drinking water and about 190 million benefiting from improved sanitation — the continent remains far from universal coverage.
Current data shows that only about 40 per cent of Africans have access to safely managed drinking water, while just 30 per cent benefit from safely managed sanitation services.
The consequences are far-reaching. Weak water and sanitation systems continue to strain healthcare services, reduce workforce productivity and undermine food and energy security, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions already grappling with climate change pressures.
Gatete stressed that Africa requires an estimated $64 billion annually to achieve water security and universal sanitation — a figure that significantly exceeds current investment levels.
He called for water to be integrated into national economic planning, alongside investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, improved data systems and stronger regional cooperation on shared water resources.
Other leaders, including Moses Vilakati and representatives of the African Development Bank, echoed the urgency for accelerated action to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Experts warn that without decisive intervention, Africa’s water crisis could intensify, further threatening economic growth, public health and regional stability.
About the Author
