African Union (AU) Economic, Social and Cultural Council convened a Civil Society Pre-Summit on February 9, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to launch continental engagement around the 2026 AU Theme of the Year: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
Organised in partnership with TrustAfrica, African Renaissance, INCLUDE Platform, Pan African Lawyers Union, Reform Initiatives, Amani Africa, All Africa Conference of Churches, Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and Afrobarometer, the event brought together around 250 participants from civil society, governments, regional institutions, research bodies, development partners, the private sector, and the media.
Africa faces a severe water and sanitation crisis, with more than 400 million people lacking access to basic drinking water and over 700 million without safely managed sanitation. The 2026 AU Theme highlights the central role of sustainable water and sanitation in achieving Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint for inclusive economic growth, social development, climate resilience, and African-led solutions.
The Pre-Summit featured interactive plenary sessions, panel discussions, and structured dialogue aimed at strengthening co-ordinated, inclusive, and climate-resilient water governance. Participants explored innovative approaches, mobilizing partnerships and resources, advancing gender justice, recognising that women and girls carry 70% of water collection burdens and enhancing accountability to ensure policy commitments translate into community impact.
Follow-up events include a High-Level Breakfast Meeting on this Tuesday, a Networking Event on February 12 in collaboration with the INCLUDE Platform, and thematic sessions on February 13 addressing climate information integrity and advancing Agenda 2063 in collaboration with the FAJ and TrustAfrica.
The Pre-Summit aims to foster a shared understanding of the 2026 AU Theme, strengthen collaboration across AU institutions, Member States, and partners, and promote innovative, policy-aligned solutions for sustainable water and sanitation governance across Africa.
–ChannelAfrica/AU–
