Gabon signs N'Djamena Declaration on Water, commits to universal access

Philippe Tonangoye, Minister of Universal Access to Water and Energy, signed the document, which commits signatory states to three priorities: water for people, for food systems, and for the planet. It also calls for the development of Water Pacts, which are investment instruments with monitoring mechanisms. By signing, Gabon commits to a national Water Pact.

The declaration, under the initiative Water Forward launched by the World Bank, addresses the lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for millions of Africans, exacerbated by droughts, floods, ecosystem degradation, and rapid urbanization. It emphasizes the need for strong institutions, effective operators, ambitious reforms, and increased public and private funding. The three axes of action are universal, equitable, affordable, and resilient access to water for populations, modernization of hydraulic and irrigation infrastructure for food systems, and protection of rivers, lakes, wetlands, and aquifers for the planet.

Signatories commit to strengthening governance, operational performance, and financial viability of sector operators, accelerating reforms, increasing public investments, and fostering private sector participation. The declaration urges countries to develop and implement Water Pacts, which include investment priorities, project portfolios, sectoral re