Economic Commission for Africa identifies $64 billion annual funding gap for continental water and sanitation security

The ECA warns that Africa needs $64bn yearly for water and sanitation. Executive Secretary Claver Gatete urges leaders to treat water as economic infrastructure.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 10:27 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Peoples Gazette

Redefining Water as Essential Economic Infrastructure

The Economic Commission for Africa is advocating for a fundamental shift in how continental leaders perceive water resources, moving beyond basic human needs to a framework of critical economic infrastructure. During a high,level session on April 30, Executive Secretary Claver Gatete emphasized that water serves as the primary backbone for health systems, food production, energy generation, and industrialization. According to Gatete, the inability to secure these resources creates a systemic risk that threatens to undermine the broader economic growth of the continent, particularly as climate change introduces new levels of volatility to existing supply chains.

Progress and Persistent Deficits in Access

Africa has achieved notable milestones over the last decade, with approximately 300 million citizens gaining access to basic drinking water and 190 million securing basic sanitation since 2015. However, these figures mask a deepening crisis of quality and management. Currently, only 40 percent of the African population has access to drinking water that is classified as safely managed, while safely managed sanitation services reach a mere 30 percent. Gatete highlighted a particularly stark reality for public health, noting that over 200 million people across the continent were still practicing open defecation as of 2024, a factor that continues to strain regional medical facilities.

The Financial Magnitude of the Sanitation Crisis

Bridging the gap between current conditions and universal security requires a massive infusion of capital that far exceeds present expenditure. The commission estimates that Africa needs an annual investment of 64 billion dollars to meet its sanitation and water targets, yet current funding levels remain a fraction of this requirement. To address this shortfall, Gatete has proposed the integration of water security into national economic planning and the strengthening of dedicated financing mechanisms. Without a significant increase in both public and private capital commitments, the continent remains at risk of falling short of Sustainable Development Goal 6.