By Bunmi Yekini
As droughts, floods, and water shortages intensify across Africa, ministers and leaders from over 60 countries are mobilizing ahead of the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM), scheduled for October 22–23 in Madrid, to chart a unified path toward water security and climate resilience.
Organized by the Government of Spain, UNICEF, and the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership, the meeting, themed “Breaking Silos: Uniting Political Leadership to Integrate Water, Sanitation and Climate Action” , is set to become a defining moment in Africa’s response to its escalating hydro-climate challenges.
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 are without safely managed sanitation. These deficits, compounded by climate change, have triggered worsening droughts in the Horn of Africa and devastating floods across the Sahel.
The summit aims to produce tangible outcomes through a High-Level Pact on Water Security and Resilience, enabling governments to turn policy ambitions into measurable commitments. A Mutual Accountability Mechanism will also be introduced to ensure transparency and monitor progress.
“This is not just another meeting , it’s a call to action,” said Muyatwa Sitali, Acting Executive Director of SWA. “African governments have proven that when political will meets partnership, results follow. Africa’s leadership will be critical in achieving lasting change.”
The 2025 SMM will also serve as a platform for African innovation, showcasing solutions such as Kenya’s investments in climate-resilient water infrastructure, Ghana’s universal sanitation drive, and Ethiopia’s integrated water-climate planning initiatives.
By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, the event seeks to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, while shaping Africa’s voice ahead of COP30 in Brazil and the UN 2026 Water Conference.
For over 15 years, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), hosted by UNICEF, has brought together governments, civil society, and development partners to advance the human rights to water and sanitation. With more than 500 partners globally, SWA continues to drive political commitment and accountability toward a water-secure future for all.