CAIRO – 25 May 2026: On the occasion of Africa Day, Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, affirmed Egypt’s deep pride in its African identity and its unwavering commitment to supporting fellow African nations, strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise in the fields of water, environment, and climate.
He said this commitment aims to help address the shared challenges facing the continent and to promote sustainable development and prosperity for the peoples of Africa.
Sweilem noted that cooperation with African countries is a key pillar of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation’s policy, in line with directives from the political leadership to strengthen South-South cooperation and support development and capacity-building efforts across African nations.
He highlighted the ministry’s implementation of numerous bilateral cooperation projects with African countries in areas including water resources management, weed control in waterways, rainwater harvesting, groundwater well drilling, training and capacity building, and the exchange of technical and scientific expertise.
He added that Egypt, under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, has launched a $100 million funding mechanism to finance studies and development projects in Nile Basin countries.
Sweilem explained that the water and climate challenges facing the African continent require enhanced cooperation, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
He noted that Egypt is placing its technical and institutional expertise at the service of African countries through the implementation of development, training, and research projects aimed at improving water resource management, increasing resilience to climate change and protecting the environment.
He added that Egypt is committed to supporting African countries through training programs organized by the National Water Research Center and the African Center for Water and Climate Adaptation (PACWA).
These programs contribute to preparing technical personnel capable of addressing the continent’s water challenges, promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise, supporting scientific research, and implementing water and climate adaptation projects.
Sweilem also emphasized Egypt’s commitment to supporting joint African action through effective cooperation with the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), which he described as a crucial platform for coordinating African visions and positions on water issues and strengthening regional cooperation to achieve water security across the continent.
He noted that Egypt’s chairmanship of the council from 2023 to 2025 reflected the confidence of African nations in Egypt’s leading role in the water sector and its efforts to support water and development issues throughout Africa.
He also pointed out that Egypt currently chairs the African Water Facility (AWF), a key mechanism for supporting the preparation and financing of water projects in African countries.
The Minister explained that this contributes to improving water resource management and enhancing the capacity of African nations to address water and climate challenges. He further affirmed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening the AWF’s role in supporting African countries and stimulating investment in the water sector.
In closing, Sweilem reiterated Egypt’s unwavering commitment to supporting African countries in the areas of water, environment, and climate. He stressed Egypt’s dedication to promoting the exchange of expertise, capacity building, and cooperation with African countries and institutions to address shared challenges and support water security, sustainable development, and prosperity across the continent.
Africa Day is celebrated annually on May 25 to commemorate the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, which later became the African Union. The occasion symbolizes African unity and honors the continent’s history and the struggles of its peoples for freedom and development.
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