From May 20-24, 2024, Bali, Indonesia, hosted the 10th World Water Forum (WWF10) under the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity.” This global gathering brought together governments, development partners, and civil society organizations to explore solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fast approaching, WWF10 served as a key platform to accelerate action toward universal access to safe water and sanitation.
For Africa, the forum was a crucial opportunity to highlight the continent’s unique water realities, advocate for policy change, and push for increased investment in the sector. ANEW (African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation) played an instrumental role in ensuring that civil society voices, particularly from Africa, were well represented in global discussions.
Championing Civil Society Engagement: ANEW’s Role at WWF10
ANEW, in collaboration with key African institutions—including the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)—actively participated in the Africa Regional Process at WWF10. The network worked alongside civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based groups, and water sector stakeholders to ensure that grassroots perspectives informed global policy discussions.
ANEW’s key contributions included:
Advocating for inclusive water governance by ensuring that the needs of marginalized communities were reflected in global policies.
Bridging the gap between policy and grassroots action by strengthening civil society engagement at regional and international levels.
Championing equity and human rights in water and sanitation access, ensuring that vulnerable groups were not left behind.
Shaping Africa’s Water Agenda: Preparatory Consultations
In the lead-up to WWF10, ANEW played a pivotal role in coordinating stakeholder consultations across Africa, ensuring that African civil society voices were actively involved in shaping the continent’s key messages. The network gathered input from grassroots organizations, women’s groups, youth activists, and sector experts to articulate Africa’s water and sanitation priorities.
Key preparatory events included:
- The 2nd WWF10 Stakeholder Meeting – Focused on defining Africa’s position on water governance and financing.
- Cairo Water Week 2023 – Explored solutions to Africa’s water security challenges.
- The 7th AfricaSan Conference (Namibia) – Addressed sanitation as a critical component of sustainable development.
- Africa Regional Process Preparatory Meeting (Nairobi, March 2024) – Hosted by the Government of Kenya, this meeting finalized Africa’s contributions to WWF10.
- ANBO Meeting (Dakar, April 2024) – Strengthened regional cooperation in water resource management at the basin level.
From these engagements, eight thematic areas were identified to guide Africa’s participation at WWF10, covering critical issues such as water security, climate resilience, infrastructure financing, and inclusive governance.
Civil Society in Action: ANEW’s Presence at WWF10
At WWF10, ANEW played an active role in multiple discussions to advance Africa’s civil society agenda and advocate for sustainable water solutions. Key activities included:
- Engagement in Technical and Special Sessions – ANEW contributed to discussions on climate finance, transboundary water governance, gender inclusion, and community-led sanitation solutions.
- Co-hosting the Africa Pavilion – In collaboration with AfDB, the Africa Pavilion served as a hub for dialogue, networking, and knowledge exchange among water and sanitation stakeholders.
- Leading Knowledge-Sharing Forums – One standout session, organized by ANEW in partnership with DHI, focused on Building Strategic Knowledge Systems for Efficient Water and Sanitation in Africa. This session explored innovative strategies for overcoming Africa’s water and sanitation challenges.
- Advocating for Civil Society Inclusion – ANEW emphasized the critical role of grassroots organizations in shaping water and sanitation policies, ensuring that community-led solutions were at the heart of global discussions.
Impact and the Road Ahead
ANEW’s participation in WWF10 reinforced Africa’s commitment to advancing inclusive, sustainable, and rights-based approaches to water and sanitation. Through its advocacy, the network successfully:
- Amplified Africa’s voice in global water governance discussions.
- Highlighted the need for increased investment in water and sanitation infrastructure.
- Elevated the role of civil society in policy development and implementation.
- Forged new partnerships between African CSOs and international stakeholders.
Moving forward, ANEW will continue to champion community-driven solutions, policy accountability, and equitable access to water and sanitation, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.
WWF10 was a milestone in the global water dialogue, and ANEW remains committed to ensuring that Africa’s water future is shaped by the voices of its people.
