Download PDFOn the occasion of World Water Day today, the Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) stands in solidarity with communities across the continent that continue to face water scarcity, exploitation by private water delivery entities and abandonment by governments. This year’s theme, “Accelerating Change,” is especially relevant as it underscores the failed Public Private Partnership (PPPs) interventions pushed on the continent by the World Bank over the past decades. Indeed, an accelerated change is needed from this trend to provide water for the about 418 million people on the continent without access to water.
We note that water scarcity remains a significant issue across Africa, with many communities lacking access to safe and reliable drinking water such as the recent cases in Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa. The ongoing effects of low public investments, climate change and unsustainable industrial water usage practices exacerbate this situation, threatening the health and well-being of millions of people.
The Africa Water Justice Network believes that access to water is a fundamental human right, and call on governments and stakeholders across the continent to prioritize equitable access to clean water for all. This means addressing the root causes of poor public water management, water scarcity and increasing public investment in infrastructure to help ensure reliable and continuous access to safe drinking water.
On this World Water Day, the Africa Water Justice Network reaffirms our commitment to working towards a just and universal access to water for all people. We call on all people to join us in demanding an accelerated change that provides access to all and which protects this precious resource for current and future generations.
About the Africa Water Justice Network
The Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) is a group of organizations drawn from various parts of Africa, working at different levels of society to ensure unhindered access to quality water for all people, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
Contact:
For media inquiries, please contact:
Leonard Shang-Quartey
Coordinator, Africa Water Justice Network
Email: info@awjn.org
Phone: +233242303423
This press statement was released by Africa Water Justice Network on 22 March 2023.
