AUC and AMCOW chart way forward on water and sanitation in Africa

Addis Ababa- November 8, 2012- The African Union’s Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Mrs. Rhoda Tumusiime yesterday met with the president of the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW), Dr. Mohammed Bahaa ei-Din Saad to chart the way forward as regards AMCOW’s objectives within the thematic approach of “Water for Growth in Africa.” The meeting also focused on issues affecting the Africa Water Vision (AWV) 2025 and the African Union’s July 2008 Sharm el Sheikh Declaration on Water and Sanitation. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Tumusiime commended the progress achieved in implementing the AWV but noted the challenges Africa was still facing in accessing adequate water and sanitation. Mrs. Tumusiime alluded to the critical importance of enhanced efforts to implement the water agenda in Africa based on the principles of the AWV 2025 and the Sharm el Sheikh Declaration on Water and Sanitation. “Let us better organise ourselves and see how we can enhance water for growth on the continent,” she said. Dr. Saad, who is also the Arab Republic of Eygpt’s Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation, noted that a large percentage of the African population does not have adequate sanitation; a situation he said exacerbated challenges in the livelihood of people in Africa. He expressed his commitment to integrate AMCOW’s initiatives with those of the African Union to effectively address the challenges in the water and sanitation sector. Some of the resolutions of the meeting included: Consolidating the working methodology between the AUC and AMCOW; developing a Pan African water agenda and compacts to implement the Sharm el Sheikh Commitments; and devising strategic ways to raise the profile of water and sanitation. The one-day meeting was also attended by AMCOW’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Bai-Mass Taal and AMCOW TAC Chairperson, Dr. Nehal Adel.