Kigali will host the Africa Water & Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium from 17–21 August 2026, bringing together more than 1,000 African and global leaders to accelerate reform and investment in water and sanitation across the continent.
Hosted by the Government of Rwanda, co-convened by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), and facilitated by IRC Africa, the Symposium is designed as a high-level political and institutional platform to move Africa decisively from commitments to delivery.
Held during the African Union Year on Water and sanitation (2026), the Symposium will focus on strengthening leadership, governance, regulation, professional capacity, and strategic public finance — the foundations of resilient and investment-ready systems..
Announcing the event, Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dr Jimmy Gasore, said:
“Africa’s water challenge is no longer about identifying solutions,it is about leadership and institutional credibility. Rwanda is honoured to host a platform that advances reforms needed to make public services work and positions water and sanitation as strategic investments for economic transformation and social equity.”
