African leaders at the forefront of climate and water resilience at the Madrid World Summit
MADRID, Spain, October 20, 2025 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Faced with intensifying droughts, floods, and water crises, African ministers and leaders are mobilizing for the 2025 Sectoral Ministers' Meeting (SMM) taking place on October 22 and 23 in Madrid. This political convergence marks a decisive step in the continental fight for water security and climate resilience.
Continental mobilization in the face of the hydro-climatic emergency
Organized by the Spanish Government, UNICEF and the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership, this meeting brings together more than 60 countries around the theme "Breaking down silos: uniting political leadership to integrate water, sanitation and climate action."
Figures from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Programme reveal the scale of the challenge: nearly 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to safe drinking water, while more than 700 million lack safely managed sanitation. These deficits are exacerbated by climate change, from droughts in the Horn of Africa to floods in the Sahel.
Concrete political commitments to transform challenges into opportunities
The summit aims for three major strategic outcomes. The High-Level Compact on Water Security and Resilience will enable African governments to translate their ambitions into measurable commitments. This mutual accountability mechanism will ensure transparent monitoring of progress.
The event serves as a stepping stone to COP30 in Brazil and the 2026 UN Water Conference, ensuring that African perspectives shape global climate-water policies.
Africa, a laboratory of innovations for hydro-climatic resilience
The continent is demonstrating its capacity for innovation with ambitious initiatives: Kenya's investments in resilient water infrastructure, Ghana's universal sanitation initiative, and Ethiopia's water-climate integration efforts. The 2025 MWS will amplify these exchanges of experiences and accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6.
“African governments have proven that when political will meets partnership, results follow,” said Muyatwa Sitali, Acting Director General of SWA. “Africa’s leadership will be critical to achieving lasting change.”
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)
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