East African Water Ministers Meet in Tanzania

East African Water Ministers Meet in Tanzania to Tackle Regional Water Challenges
Dar es Salaam, March 7, 2025

East African water ministers have convened in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for a crucial meeting aimed at addressing the region's ongoing water challenges. The ministers, representing member states of the East African Community (EAC), met to discuss the implementation of the region’s water policy and the African Water Vision for 2025.

In a strategic session, the ministers discussed a range of issues, including a report from the technical committee on securing new donors and the urgent need for accurate data on groundwater reserves. The committee’s recommendations stressed the importance of collective action to combat the region's water scarcity, which has been exacerbated by climate change.

During the meeting, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Water, Engineer Kundo Mathew, representing Minister Juma Aweso, emphasized the need for comprehensive data on underground water resources. Mathew highlighted that Tanzania possesses approximately 126 billion liters of water, with 121 billion liters available on the surface and 5 billion liters stored underground. However, he noted the necessity for better data collection across the entire East African region, particularly regarding groundwater availability.

“This strategy will help us gather sufficient data on our underground water resources,” said Mathew. “We must invest in research and be prepared to face the challenges posed by climate change.”

In line with these efforts, Tanzania has initiated various projects, including those aimed at providing water from Lake Victoria, to ensure water security despite changing climatic conditions.

The ministers also discussed the importance of continuing dialogues with existing donors and reaching out to new partners to secure the financial resources needed to support regional water projects. They also reviewed past resolutions, identifying both successes and areas for improvement, to inform future strategies.

Outgoing Kenyan Minister for Water and Irrigation, Eric Mugaa, stressed the importance of ensuring that every African citizen has access to sufficient drinking and irrigation water. He highlighted the need for continued financial support, as the East African Water Ministers' Council (AMCOW) is still heavily reliant on external donors for its operations.

“We are grateful for the support from our donors, but we also need to ensure that every member state fulfills its financial obligations to AMCOW,” Mugaa remarked.

The conference also saw the formal welcoming of the new Vice President of AMCOW, Juma Aweso, who was encouraged to continue advocating for water sector development across Africa.

The meeting concluded with renewed optimism for reforms in the water sector, with participants agreeing on the necessity of enhancing cooperation between governments and the private sector to ensure the efficient execution of water projects.

The ministers also reaffirmed the need to recognize water not only as a natural resource but also as a key economic tool that can drive social and economic progress across Africa.

Participating countries included Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, and the host nation, Tanzania.