KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda has called for stronger leadership, sustainable investment and accountable institutions to accelerate improvements in water and sanitation across Africa, as government officials, experts, financiers and development partners gather in Kigali for the Africa Water and Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium 2026.
The continental symposium is taking place at the Kigali Convention Centre from August 17 to 21 under the theme, “Accelerating Water and Sanitation Transformation for Sustainable Impact.” It is jointly organized by the African Union, the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and the Government of Rwanda, with IRC facilitating the gathering.
Rwanda’s Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva officially addressed the high-level gathering on August 18, placing particular emphasis on moving beyond declarations and ensuring that commitments made in Kigali translate into meaningful improvements for communities.
“The real test of this week will not be what we sign here in Kigali, but what changes when we return home,” Nsengiyumva said, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. He said progress should ultimately be reflected in stronger institutions, better decisions and improvements in the “quality, reliability, and sustainability” of the water and sanitation services received by citizens.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that infrastructure construction alone cannot resolve Africa’s water challenges. Sustainable progress requires systems capable of operating, maintaining and financing infrastructure over the long term, while ensuring that communities continue receiving dependable services.
That approach places institutional performance at the heart of the water agenda. Treatment plants, pipelines, sanitation facilities and other infrastructure can expand physical capacity, but their long-term value depends on competent management, financing, maintenance, regulation and accountability.
The Kigali gathering comes during a significant year for Africa’s water agenda. The African Union designated water and sanitation as a central continental priority for 2026, with the 39th AU Summit focusing on sustainable water availability and safe sanitation as essential components of achieving Agenda 2063.
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African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Moses Vilakati has similarly emphasized the need to shift the continental agenda toward implementation. Speaking during the launch of the Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy earlier this year, Vilakati said the 2026 water and sanitation theme was designed to accelerate implementation and stressed that progress would ultimately be measured by the number of Africans gaining access to safe water, sanitation and resilient services.
The Africa Water Vision 2063 provides a long-term continental framework covering universal access, sustainable water availability, resilient ecosystems, investment, stronger governance, improved data systems, development of human capacity and cooperation in the management of shared water resources. The framework is intended to connect water security with Africa’s broader economic transformation, climate resilience and development ambitions.
Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, has also emphasized the importance of sustainable infrastructure and improved public services as Rwanda expands investments in water, sanitation and other essential systems. The broader discussions in Kigali reflect a recognition that African governments will need to combine infrastructure development with technology, professional management, institutional reform and innovative financing to achieve lasting results.
Financing remains one of the continent’s major challenges. Water systems require substantial initial investment as well as continuing resources for maintenance, expansion and modernization. The African Union has increasingly sought to mobilize governments, development institutions and private investors around bankable water projects, with a 2025 continental investment summit reporting preliminary annual investment pipelines estimated at $10 billion to $12 billion.
The Kigali symposium is also expected to contribute to Africa’s preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, scheduled for December 8–10 in the United Arab Emirates and co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE. AMCOW has described the Kigali gathering as an opportunity for African countries to strengthen their common priorities ahead of that global meeting.
Beyond international conferences, however, Rwanda’s message places citizens at the center of the debate. The effectiveness of water policy is ultimately experienced in households, schools, hospitals, businesses and communities where reliable access to clean water and safe sanitation directly influences health, economic productivity and human dignity.
The symposium therefore represents more than a discussion about building infrastructure. It is a continental examination of whether governments and institutions can establish reliable systems capable of delivering essential services over decades.
As delegates continue their discussions in Kigali, Nsengiyumva’s message provides a clear measure of success: the significance of the gathering will not be determined primarily by documents adopted or commitments announced, but by whether African institutions return home prepared to transform those commitments into dependable water and sanitation services for their people.
