Securing reliable water supplies has long been a challenge across Africa, and the situation is expected to worsen as droughts grow more frequent and severe. Past crises in other regions, such as Iran’s warning of potential evacuations due to water shortages and Cape Town’s near ‘Day Zero’ scenario in 2018, underscore the urgency. Recent dry spells in eastern and southern Africa have already had devastating impacts on food production, highlighting the need for proactive solutions.
At the recent World Water Congress in Marrakech, experts emphasized the importance of strengthening water infrastructure in Africa and the Global South to adapt to climate change. The UN Secretary-General’s special envoy on water, Retno Marsdui, highlighted that by 2030, 4.8 billion people could face health and livelihood risks from poor water quality, emphasizing the grim reality confronting many communities.