As the United Nations warns of a global “era of water bankruptcy,” the African Union (AU) is intensifying calls for action to strengthen water management in agriculture—a critical challenge as more than 300 million people across Africa face hunger.
In January 2026, DWFI Associate Director Nicole Lefore moderated a high-level panel on Sustainable Water Resources Management for a Food-secure Africa during the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) in Berlin. The session was convened by the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, together with the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Integrity.
Addressing Growing Water and Food Stress
Panelists from across the continent examined Africa’s increasingly complex challenges of water scarcity, drought and food insecurity. While not all areas of Africa face water scarcity, the panel featured representatives from countries that have recently endured significant drought impacts on agriculture and livestock. Their insights underscored a shared recognition: investment in agricultural water systems is essential across all regions.
National Priorities and Policy Approaches
H.E. Dr. Edwin Dikoloti, Minister of Lands and Agriculture for Botswana, described how recurring drought is hindering progress toward the country’s nutritional security goals. He emphasized the importance of strengthening groundwater management—including water quality—for both livestock and irrigation.
Angola’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, H.E. Isaac Francisco Maria Dos Anjos, highlighted national efforts to improve water governance at multiple scales and noted Angola’s longstanding collaboration with Botswana through water sharing agreements.
Representing North Africa, Mr. El Yacoubi, Director General of Irrigation and Agricultural Land Development for Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture, pointed to Morocco’s successful investments in agricultural water management. However, he also stressed the need to better manage competition among water users in already water scarce regions.
Mr. Ibrahima Coulibaly, Vice President of the Pan-African Farmers Organization (PAFO), reinforced the importance of grounding policies in the real constraints faced by farmers—particularly around irrigation access and development.
Finance: The Central Challenge
Financing emerged as the dominant theme throughout the discussion. Panel participants and keynote speakers—including H.E. Moses Vilakati of the African Union Commission and Dr. Mark Smith of the International Water Management Institute—called for deeper commitments to fund agricultural water and irrigation initiatives. Dr. Lefore closed the session by emphasizing the urgency of bridging innovation gaps across financing systems, whether public, private, or farmer led, and ranging from equipment manufacturing to on-farm adoption.
A Global Focus on Water in 2026
The GFFA’s 2026 focus on water marked a notable shift, intentionally bringing agricultural ministers together to deliberate water issues as integral to food and nutrition security. The Agriculture Ministers’ Conference issued a formal communique acknowledging the vast scale of investment required and urging governments and partners to allocate a meaningful share of all water-related financing toward food systems. The emphasis on water for food production and nutrition is a marked shift in such statements.
This year’s forum aligns with the designation of 2026 as the “Year of Water” and is one in a series of major events leading up to the United Nations Water Conference in December 2026, with the United Nations Water Action Decade continuing through 2028.
