The 42nd GIMAC Pre-Summit CSOs Consultative Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union and Member States was convened by the GIMAC Network in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ahead of the 39th African Union Summit. The engagement took place over three days, beginning with the 15th GIMAC Youth Advocacy Training on 6 February 2026, followed by the main GIMAC Pre-Summit Consultative Meeting on 7–8 February 2026.
Held under the theme “Advancing Gender-Responsive Water and Sanitation Policies for Sustainable Development in Africa,” the meeting aimed to influence continental policy priorities in alignment with the African Union’s 2026 Theme: Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063. Notably, this marks the first time in 18 years that water and sanitation have been elevated as a standalone AU theme.
During PALU’s session, Esther Mnaro situated the AU 2026 Theme within Africa’s broader development and human rights agenda. She highlighted the transition from the Africa Water Vision 2025 to the Africa Water Vision 2063, formally adopted by African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) in 2025, which reframes water from a basic social service to a strategic economic and development asset.
She emphasized that water functions as the blue thread connecting all seven Aspirations of Agenda 2063, spanning prosperity, human development, peace and security, and environmental sustainability. Without water security, she noted, the vision of “The Africa We Want” remains unrealizable.
Esther Mnaro further examined the relevance of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), particularly article 15 on the right to food security. She underscored that States Parties are obligated to ensure women’s access to clean drinking water, land, and domestic energy sources as foundational requirements for food security, health, and dignity. This framing positioned gender-responsive WASH as a legal and accountability issue, rather than a purely technical or development concern.
Fortunate Chilenje complemented this analysis by unpacking the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the evolving jurisprudence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). While the Charter does not explicitly reference water and sanitation, she explained how the African Commission has consistently recognised these as derivative rights linked to article 4 (right to life), article 5 (right to dignity), article 16 (right to health), article 24 (right to a satisfactory environment).
She also highlighted article 14 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which expressly obliges States to ensure access to safe drinking water for children, alongside the 2019 ACHPR Guidelines on the Right to Water in Africa, which clarify States’ duties and standards of implementation.
Discussions during the session moved beyond infrastructure deficits to address what participants identified as a “leadership gap” in Africa’s water sector. While the continent faces an estimated USD 30 billion annual investment gap, participants emphasized that governance challenges such as top-down decision-making, fragmented institutions, and limited public participation often pose greater barriers.
Key priority areas identified included;
- Groundwater governance, recognised as Africa’s hidden lifeline for climate resilience
- Transboundary water cooperation, given that over 90% of Africa’s surface water lies within shared river basins
- Urban–rural equity, addressing persistent disparities in access and service delivery
A central focus of PALU’s engagement building on the 15th GIMAC Youth Advocacy Training was the role of youth and women as leaders in water governance. Esther Mnaro emphasized that women and girls, who bear nearly 70% of the water collection burden across Africa, are not merely vulnerable groups but primary water managers and holders of critical local knowledge.
She further highlighted Africa’s youth dividend, noting that with over 60% of the population under the age of 25, young people are essential drivers of innovation and accountability. She outlined key entry points for youth advocacy, including policy engagement, strategic litigation, budget monitoring, and youth-led water and sanitation entrepreneurship.
The session concluded with interactive group discussions facilitated by Fortunate Chilenje, linking water governance to broader issues of economic justice, climate resilience, peace and security, education, and social inclusion. This participatory process reinforced the need for inclusive, rights-based, and youth-led approaches to advancing Africa’s WASH agenda.
PALU’s participation at the 42nd GIMAC Pre-Summit CSOs Consultative Meeting, reaffirmed the centrality of legal frameworks, gender justice, and youth leadership in shaping sustainable and accountable water governance. As Africa heads toward the 39th AU Summit, these engagements provide a strong foundation for translating continental commitments on water and sanitation into concrete, people-centred action in line with Agenda 2063.