As Africa grapples with intensifying droughts, floods, and water insecurity, government ministers and leaders from across the continent are uniting ahead of the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM), which will take place on October 22–23 in Madrid, Spain.

The meeting — co-convened by the Government of Spain, UNICEF, and the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership — will bring together ministers of water, sanitation, environment, climate, and finance from more than 60 countries. Its theme, “Breaking Silos: Uniting Political Leadership to Integrate Water, Sanitation and Climate Action,” underscores the urgent need for collaborative action to safeguard communities and strengthen climate resilience.

Africa’s Water and Climate Challenge

According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, nearly 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to safe drinking water, while more than 700 million do not have access to safely managed sanitation. At the same time, climate change is intensifying existing vulnerabilities — from prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa to flooding in the Sahel and water shortages in Southern Africa.

These interconnected crises threaten health, education, food security, and economic stability. In response, African governments are taking bold steps to align national water, sanitation, and climate policies — and the SMM will offer an important platform to showcase progress, mobilize partnerships, and strengthen accountability.

The SMM 2025 is expected to deliver several key outcomes that will shape the future of water security and resilience. One major milestone will be the adoption of a High-Level Leaders’ Pact on Water Security and Resilience, through which governments will endorse bold and measurable commitments aimed at closing existing gaps in access to water while strengthening climate resilience across the continent. In addition, a Mutual Accountability Mechanism will be established as a global framework to track progress, ensuring transparency and fostering collaboration among governments, donors, and civil society. Finally, the meeting’s outcomes will be strategically aligned with major global agendas, feeding into COP30 in Brazil and the UN 2026 Water Conference, to ensure that African perspectives and priorities play a central role in shaping international climate and water policies.

Africa’s Leadership in Action

Across the continent, countries are already advancing ambitious initiatives — from Kenya’s investments in climate-resilient water infrastructure, to Ghana’s drive for universal sanitation, and Ethiopia’s efforts to integrate water and climate planning. The SMM will allow African leaders to exchange experiences, deepen south-south collaboration, and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) — ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

“African governments have shown that when political will meets partnership, results follow,” said Muyatwa Sitali, acting CEO of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA). “The SMM is where global commitments meet local realities — and Africa’s leadership will be critical to achieving lasting change.”

(The Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership — hosted by UNICEF — has united governments, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to advance the human rights to water and sanitation for all for the past 15 years. With over 500 partners worldwide, SWA drives political commitment, strengthens institutions, and promotes accountability to achieve lasting results.)

Contributed by Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)