Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has urged African nations to bolster governance and establish institutions that can draw investment into the water and sanitation sector, asserting that the continent's primary issue is not a lack of funding.
He made these remarks on Tuesday, August 18, during the opening of the Africa Water and Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium 2026 in Kigali. The four-day symposium convened African leaders, experts, financiers, and global partners to deliberate on strategies for delivering sustainable and investable water and sanitation services.
Across Africa, 418 million people still lack access to basic water services, while 779 million lack basic sanitation and 839 million lack basic hygiene.
Nsengiyumva stated that Africa has undertaken numerous investments in water infrastructure, including pipe laying, borehole drilling, and the construction of treatment plants, yet many facilities are not effectively providing the services they were intended for.
"The lesson is clear. Building infrastructure is important, but to a large extent, it is only the beginning. Ensuring that the built infrastructure functions effectively and reaches communities over the long term is the real measure of success," he said.
"How do we translate investment into reliable and lasting services? The answer lies in stronger institutions, effective governance, sustainable financing, and accountable leadership. Rather, we should think about how we build the kind of institutions that money wants to find."
Nsengiyumva emphasized that governance and leadership are prerequisites for achieving water security in Africa, referencing the Africa Water Vision and Policy 2063 by the African Ministers' Council on Water.
He cited findings from the African Union's panel on water investment, which indicate that improved governance, including effective tariffs, revenue collection, and disciplined financial management, could unlock approximately $11.5 billion annually, while enhanced domestic resource mobilization could unlock an additional $17.5 billion.
"While foreign partnership is important, we see that foreign assistance is a modest line in the accounts. This goes to show that Africa's water future can and should be paid for by Africans," he stated.
Nsengiyumva noted that investors are more inclined to commit capital to institutions that exhibit financial discipline, accountability, and the capacity to fulfill their obligations.
He also acknowledged that Rwanda's water sector reforms are ongoing, including efforts to reduce non-revenue water.
"In my view, there's nothing non-revenue about water that has been treated and pumped that never reaches the people it is meant to serve. That's a big loss of resources and, more importantly, a loss of service to our citizens."
Damien Murwanashyaka, Minister of Infrastructure, also pointed out that Africa continues to face significant challenges in water access, service quality, financing, and distribution capacity, despite progress.
"We must build reliable, affordable, safe, resilient and sustainable water and sanitation systems that can serve our growing population and economies over the long term," he said.
He advocated for a transition from infrastructure delivery to sustainable service provision, with increased reliance on domestic resources and private sector involvement.
"This requires a fundamental shift from project systems, from infrastructure delivery to sustainable services, from dependence on external financing towards stronger domestic resource mobilisation and greater private sector participation,"
Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability of the United Arab Emirates, highlighted that climate change, population growth, urbanization, and increasing demand are intensifying pressure on global water systems.
He stated that the current priority is to mobilize partnerships, finance, technology, and political leadership to translate commitments into tangible outcomes.
Balalaa added that the need for more investable projects, stronger institutional capacity, and reforms to attract large-scale financing also presents an economic opportunity for Africa.
"Water is not only a development imperative, it is an economic imperative, and it is a huge opportunity for everyone. Stronger water systems support jobs, productivity, food security and long-term prosperity. Hence, unlocking investment in water means unlocking investment in Africa's future."
