The 13th Ordinary Session of the General Assembly of the governing council of African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) concluded yesterday.
The session was under the chairmanship of Egypt, which succeeded Namibia to AMCOW presidency.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, who is also AMCOW president, said that Egypt will continue the previous successes of the council in addressing water issues in Africa.
“This session of the General Assembly is the first to be held after the Covid-19 pandemic,” the minister added.
“This session came at a time when our continent is facing the effects of climate change and the associated floods, torrential rains, droughts and hurricanes more than ever before, affecting tens of thousands of citizens across the continent as well as the water and infrastructure services provided to them,” Sewilam said.
Sewilam also reviewed efforts of the past period, referring to the UN Water Conference earlier this year where Africa was heavily represented. The minister also referred to Egypt’s unprecedented endeavours to bring water to the heart of climate agenda at COP27, which culminated in the launch of an international initiative for adaptation in the water sector (AWARe), in partnership with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and several United Nations agencies and partner countries. The initiative covers six work tracks on various issues of water and climate ,supporting international efforts to conserve water and accelerate progress towards SDG 6, he said.
The AMCOW President also referred to the establishment of an African training centre in the field of climate adaptation, which Egypt dedicated to serve this purpose. The centre has already launched its first activity by organising a training course: Water Management in Urban Areas’ last May with 24 trainees from AMCOW member states.
In the light of the growing challenges of water scarcity in Africa, Sewilam called on AMCOW members to unite efforts for the launch of the United Nations Action Programme on Water Scarcity. Egypt, in co-ordination with more than 160 countries, also called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations to appoint a special UN envoy for water, recommending that this envoy should be from the southern countries.
The co-ordination of African efforts is of paramount importance during the upcoming climate conferences, especially the COP28, to provide investments, increase environment resilience, and support countries that suffer from losses and damages resulting from climate change, especially in Africa, the minister said.
“Despite previous efforts, there is an urgent need to take more measures to achieve the African Water Vision 2025 and accelerate the process of formulating Post-2025 Africa’s Water Vision and the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” the minister added, stressing the need to strengthen the process of delivering water and sanitation to the African people.
“The world needs to raise the status of water as a human right by giving priority to water in the national development plans of member states,” he said.
He also called on all AMCOW member states and relevant partners to mobilise the required resources and strengthen institutional ties and partnerships to put the resolutions of the 13th General Assembly into practice.
Zambian Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Mike Mposha spoke with The Egyptian Gazette on common challenges facing Africa such as climate change and lack of resources to expand the supply of water and sanitation services.
“Therefore, it is important to share ideas, which will help respond to the growing population by providing adequate resources. It is also important to combine efforts to attract investments besides building capacities to respond positively to the numerous challenges,” Mposha said.
The minister, meanwhile, hailed collaboration with Egypt, stressing that Egypt has done very well in terms of irrigation.
“We want to learn from Egypt expertise and best practices to ensure food security as there is no food security without water security,” he said.
The Zambian minister hailed the recent visit by President Sisi to Zambia, saying that it will cast a positive light on joint collaboration in key sectors like pharmaceutical industry.
The South African Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu, told this newspaper that a memorandum of understanding between the two countries is about to be signed in light of the ongoing collaboration between the two countries.
As for AMCOW meeting, the minister spoke of the need to facilitate multilateralism in the continent to accelerate implementation of SDG6.
Pal Mai Deng, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of South Sudan, said that his country’s priorities is to stick to implementation policies, especially that Africa is hardest hit by climate change.
He also hailed the deep relations with Egypt, referring to support from Egyptian government in terms of capacity building, health, education, and agriculture.
“Egypt is currently implementing a number of projects in South Sudan,” he said.
