Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hany Sewilam today oversaw the launch of the African Water Ambassadors Training Programme, held via the online platform of the Pan-African Centre for Water and Climate Adaptation (PACWA). The programme brings together 200 trainees from 27 African countries, underscoring broad continental engagement.
In his address, Sewilam said the wide participation reflects the spirit of African solidarity and a shared commitment to building a sustainable future for the continent. He emphasized that Egypt views water not merely as a natural resource, but as a cornerstone of development, stability, and regional co-operation.
The minister highlighted the pressing need to strengthen the practical and applied skills of young African engineers through specialised training. In this context, he noted that capacity building remains one of the most important pillars of co-operation between Egypt and African nations, describing investment in youth and professional human resources as a strategic priority for advancing Africa’s water sector.
Sewilam affirmed that the programme reflects Egypt’s commitment to knowledge exchange and to equipping African engineers and specialists with the tools required to address the continent’s growing water challenges. He added that the initiative aims to empower participants to serve as effective ambassadors for sustainable water management within their institutions and communities.
The programme covers a broad range of integrated topics, including water ethics, water diplomacy, water conservation, integrated water resources management, leadership and network-building, smart water and irrigation management, as well as gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
Sewilam also praised the role of the PACWA Centre in training and capacity building for African water professionals and in facilitating knowledge transfer under the AWARe ( Action on Water Adaptation and Resilience) initiative, implemented in co-operation with United Nations agencies and partner countries.
Since mid-2023, PACWA has trained approximately 1,000 African professionals, with Egypt aiming to significantly expand this number over the next three years.
