48th Ordinary Session Of The Executive Council of The African Union Theme: Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063 Statement By Mr. Claver Gatete United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 11 February, 2026

Abstract

The statement delivered by Mr. Claver Gatete, United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, to the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council on 11 February 2026 in Addis Ababa underscores the pressing need for Africa to adopt a more self reliant development model amid global economic slowdown, escalating financing costs and growing climate related challenges. It emphasizes that water and sanitation, the AU Theme of the Year, are not simply social services but strategic economic infrastructure essential for boosting productivity, accelerating industrialization, attracting long term and sustainable investment.