PROGRAMME
The Africa Water & Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium 2026 is not just another gathering. It is a continental milestone to launch Africa’s Systemic Transformation Agenda for Water and Sanitation—turning the Africa Water Vision 2063 into action.
The Symposium is not about diagnosing problems, but about advancing reforms, sharing country pathways, and activating systemic change that lasts. You can explore our draft programme on this page.
Our six dialogues
High-level political dialogues
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Lead organisations: AMCOW, Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda, Ministry of Finance Rwanda, AU-AIP, SWA, IRC Uganda
The high-level dialogues will bring together Ministers of Water, Finance, and Planning, alongside heads of state representatives and development finance institutions (DFIs), to chart a shared agenda for credible, investable reform.
These discussions will be informed by the Country Transformation Snapshots, which illustrate how national reforms across Africa are strengthening systems and trust.
A public call for the country snapshots will be posted.
Strategic dialogues on public finance
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Lead organisations: Ministry of Finance Rwanda, Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda, African Development Bank, WASAC, Water For People Rwanda, GIZ
These dialogues will focus on making financial credibility a defining feature of water and sanitation systems in Africa. Its objectives are to:
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Strengthen governance and enabling environment for increased investments in the water sector in the continent
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Advance public financial management reforms and efficiency
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Promote domestic resource mobilisation
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Showcase Rwanda’s innovations
Strategic dialogues on regulation and accountability
Lead organisations: ESAWAS, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, African Development Bank, Aguaconsult, International Water Association, African Civil Society Network on Water, World Health Organisation
The regulation and accountability dialogues will address the actions required to improve regulation and accountability across the continent and address the structural roots of failure. It seeks to catalyse reform of regulatory and accountability systems and foster a culture of performance and transparency across public, private, and civic actors.
Strategic dialogues on professionalisation
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Lead organisations: WASAC, NWSC (Uganda), AFWASA, Ghana Water, IRC Ghana, IWA, GWOPA, VEI, Uduma
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This pillar focuses deliberately on service providers—utilities, rural water enterprises, and sanitation service providers—as the operational heart of transformation. It is about developing capable, accountable, and financially credible institutions that can:
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Complete asset management as well as operation and maintenance (O&M) functions under clear legal and contractual mandates
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Meet emerging climate resilience requirements
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Manage skilled staff and standard operating procedures
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Track data, costs, and performance
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Recover costs transparently while ensuring affordability
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Build trust with regulators, investors, and citizens
African youth solutions and innovation dialogues
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Lead organisations: IRC Africa, GWP –SA, Aguaconsult
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The youth pillar creates a structured platform where African youth-led businesses, operators, and digital innovators engage directly with governments, utilities, regulators, and investors. Through a competitive call and four Youth Solutions Matchmaking Sessions, young entrepreneurs present solutions that strengthen service delivery, environmental resilience, data-driven decision-making, and financial credibility.
The track offers a continental platform for youth enterprises from across Africa to position their solutions for adoption, partnership, and scale within national and regional WASH systems.
Systems reform and investments dialogues
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Lead organisations: African Development Bank (tbd) and AU-AIP
To complement infrastructure-focused investment platforms, the Symposium will introduce a process dedicated to strengthening systemic foundations for water security and climate resilience.
The sessions aim to:
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Mobilise partnerships and targeted finance instruments for system-strengthening initiatives and reforms
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Showcase innovative governance and data solutions that can be scaled or replicated.
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Facilitate structured dialogue on practical pathways to improve efficiency and climate resilience.
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Generate commitments and follow-up actions (we are not expecting deals to be done during the matchmaking sessions)
Daily content focus
​Day 1 – Monday, 17 August 2026
Laying the ground for Africa’s transformation journey
Participants arrive in Kigali and orient themselves in the Convention Center. The day is dedicated to familiarisation, networking, and energising the youth pillar. Young innovators showcase professional, viable solutions and project owners refine their pitches for the finance matchmaking sessions. Side events convene diverse partners. The evening welcome reception gathers high-level delegates for first connections and sets a spirit of ambition and collaboration.
Day 2 – Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Embracing the Africa Water Vision 2063: launching systemic transformation dialogues
The official Opening Plenary, under presidential leadership, sets the tone. Heads of State and the AU Commission articulate Africa’s collective ambition, framing systemic transformation as central to achieving the Africa Water Vision 2063. A technical panel then unpacks the agenda for reforms, finance, and accountability.
In the afternoon, participants move into the first Strategic dialogues on public finance and High-level political dialogues, grounding political ambition in practical reform and financing priorities. Systems reform and investments dialogues and African youth solutions and innovation dialogues enrich the day, bridging political leadership, technical innovation, and intergenerational perspectives.
Day 3 – Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Accelerating systemic reforms: unlocking financial credibility
The day opens with a High-level plenary dedicated to financial credibility and strategic public finance. Ministers, the AfDB, and investors debate how systemic reforms can shift the investment climate and unlock domestic and blended finance.
Matchmaking sessions and High-level political dialogues continue, sharpening national reform pathways and financing strategies. Transformation Dialogues dive deeper into professionalisation, regulation, and finance. African youth solutions and innovation dialogues highlights bold contributions from the next generation.
The evening cocktail launching the Riva Network symbolises the drive for stronger institutional ecosystems across Africa.
Day 4 – Thursday, 20 August 2026
Consolidating Commitments and Partnerships for System Transformation by 2030
The morning focuses on the final round of High-level political dialogues and Finance Matchmaking Sessions, connecting lessons across pillars and shaping country and institutional commitments. The afternoon begins with a plenary on follow-up initiatives, launching platforms and partnerships to institutionalise change beyond Kigali.
The Closing Plenary, presided by the Prime Minister of Rwanda and AU Commissioner for Water, consolidates ministerial responses and formally adopts the Kigali Declaration — endorsed on behalf of Heads of State who inaugurated the process. This ensures the outcomes carry full presidential authority while mandating ministers to lead implementation and follow-up.
Day 5 – Friday, 21 August 2026
Activating stakeholders’ transformation initiatives
The journey closes with field visits that showcase country and institutional leadership in action. These sessions highlight how commitments made in Kigali are being translated into concrete initiatives, reforms, and investments. It is a day of activation — inspiring participants to take home not only ideas but also practical partnerships and pathways for systemic transformation.