WINDHOEK: Africa’s ambitions to elevate its population out of poverty through accelerated industrialisation and agriculture will be transformed into actionable progress only if sanitation and water are available securely, sustainably, and affordably, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein said.
The minister made these remarks during the opening session of the 23rd African Water Facility (AWF) governance council in Swakopmund, which was held alongside the seventh edition of the Africa Sanitation and Hygiene Conference (AfricaSan7) on Wednesday.
In his statement, Schlettwein noted that Africa’s immediate challenge is to meet the targets of SDG6, which include supplying fresh and safe water to 400 million people who have no access to water.
“We must provide sanitation to 800 million people, we have to avail water to millions of people living in informal urban settings, and we must prevent water pollution. It is abundantly clear that we must stand ready to unlock Africa’s development, including agriculture and industry,” he said.
The ministry’s developmental ambitions must be lived up to while facing a severe climate change crisis holding existential risks for life, livelihoods, and global biodiversity, Schlettwein noted.
“The effects are now clearly visible with droughts and floods increased intensity, with out-of-season storms, intense wildfires, and consequent flooding, unprecedented heatwaves, glacier melting, and rising ocean levels. All these climate changes are having severe effects on the water cycle, making secure sanitation and water supply more difficult, more expensive, and often out of reach for developing countries,” the minister said.
Furthermore, shortfalls in the required funding to address climate change and related water cycle aspects remain significant. Secondly, the nation has a financial crisis, Schlettwein said.
He added that currently, the debt crisis, exchange trends, inflation, and the weaponising of financial rules are fuelling inequality and make the future prospects for developing economies difficult.
“This is especially relevant for Africa with its youthful population, where a conducive economic climate for quality economic growth and job creation is much needed to ensure prosperity for our children,” Schlettwein said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency