N’Djamena hosts pivotal African water summit amid critical regional challenges
N’Djamena hosts pivotal African water summit amid critical regional challenges
N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, is set to become the global focal point for water security discussions this week as it hosts the African Water Forum. Organized in collaboration with the Chadian government and the World Bank through its Water Forward initiative, the two-day event will bring together heads of state, finance and water ministers, agricultural and energy officials, alongside regional leaders, multilateral development banks, and private sector representatives.
The summit, themed « From Vision to Action », aims to tackle pressing issues including water security, climate resilience, and universal access to clean drinking water. Participants will engage in high-level dialogues to finalize investment roadmaps, advance national water management agreements, and secure critical funding from public, private, and blended sources to accelerate sector development.
World Bank joins forces with Chadian leadership for water security
The forum will see the participation of Anna Bjerde, World Bank Managing Director of Operations, who will co-chair the proceedings alongside President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. The event is expected to approve the WASH+ Investment Roadmap, a strategic framework designed to scale up water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure across Chad and the broader Sahel region.
Water crisis affects over 400 million Africans
The timing of the forum is crucial. According to the World Bank, over 400 million Africans still lack access to basic drinking water, while more than 700 million do not have adequate sanitation. Without urgent investment, water scarcity could reduce the GDP of some African nations by up to 6%, with Sahelian countries facing even greater losses. Conversely, improved water management could unlock agricultural growth, enhance energy security, boost public health, and strengthen regional stability.
Chad’s water security initiatives gain international momentum
For Chad, this summit arrives at a pivotal moment. Earlier this year, the World Bank approved a $160 million (over 92 billion FCFA) financing package to expand access to clean water and reinforce climate resilience in the country’s most vulnerable provinces—particularly those hosting over 1.3 million Sudanese refugees. « In a context where water and natural resource pressures are exacerbating community tensions, this operation will restore access to water and rekindle hope for a sustainable future, » stated Farouk Mollah Banna, World Bank Resident Representative in Chad.
Bold funding commitments signal regional water transformation
The forum also aligns with Chad’s broader strategy to mobilize international financing. In late 2025, the government presented its National Water Development Program at a high-level conference in Abu Dhabi, securing over $20 billion in pledges from development partners. Since then, Chadian authorities have intensified negotiations with key donors including the World Bank, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union, and the World Food Programme (WFP), all focused on financing critical water infrastructure and strengthening the country’s resilience to climate change.
A continental vision for water security
The stakes extend far beyond Chad’s borders. The World Bank’s Water Forward initiative, launched in April 2026, positions this forum as the first major African milestone in a continent-wide push for water security. The initiative seeks to foster deeper collaboration between governments, technical and financial partners, and the private sector to expand water policies beyond drinking water and sanitation—encompassing irrigation, energy production, food security, and cooperation over transboundary river basins. Notably, nearly 90% of Africa’s water resources are shared across multiple countries, making regional cooperation essential.
