Namibia to host Africa water conference

Namibia will host the seventh edition of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (Amcow) and the Commission of the African Union sanitation conference at Swakopmund, from 6 to10 November.

This was announced at the 13th ordinary session of the General Assembly of the African Ministers’ Council on Water that ended in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday and was attended by water minister Calle Schlettwein and executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata.

The assembly was set to consider and guide the implementation of the Amcow decisions and interventions, including the programmes and budgets and technical reports of the secretariat and other committees.

It was also to seek guidance for preparations towards the development of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision.

“On behalf of the people and government of Namibia, I warmly invite you all to the seventh edition of the Africa Sanitation Conference, which will take place at Swakopmund, Namibia, from 6 to 10 November 2023,” said Schlettwein at the assembly.

The AfricaSan Conference – as it is popularly known – will be convened under the theme: ‘Strengthening Systems and Partnerships for Accelerated Action on Safely Managed Sanitation and Hygiene’.

The minister recalled the July 2008 Declaration on Accelerating the Achievement of Water and Sanitation Goals by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

He said sanitation is not just a basic need, but a fundamental right that empowers individuals and transforms communities.

“It is the cornerstone of health, education and economic growth. Access to safe sanitation improves health outcomes, opens doors to quality education, and creates opportunities for economic prosperity,” the minister added.

“The seventh AfricaSan Conference will strengthen our partnerships, knowledge exchange, and efforts in leveraging investments in sanitation.

Also, it will catalyse action on research and innovation, capacity development, hygiene and behaviour change, gender mainstreaming and other inclusive approaches to sanitation development.”
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na