Africa Water Sustainability Year 2026: From Sudanese Diplomacy to Rebuilding the Water Sector (2–2)

Dr Ammar Abakar Abdallah
The declaration of Africa Water Sustainability Year 2026, alongside the World Bank Group’s “Mission Water” initiative, has made clear that water is no longer approached as a purely technical or service-oriented issue. Rather, it is now regarded as a sovereign and developmental entry point capable of supporting stability and reconstruction in post-conflict states. The real value of these continental and international shifts, however, does not lie in the announcements themselves, but in countries’ ability to translate them into implementable policies and programmes. In this context, the question arises: how can Sudan leverage this moment—not only through technical instruments but also through official diplomacy — as a driver of rebuilding the water sector and linking it to national recovery and peacebuilding?
Sudanese Diplomacy and Strategic Repositioning
Within this framework, the address delivered by Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation before the consultative session of the African Union Peace and Security Council on 12 February 2026 affirmed that Sudan has begun transitioning from managing war to pursuing reconstruction and peacebuilding within an African framework. The speech conveyed a clear political message: that Sudan’s suspension from the African Union did not prevent the outbreak of war; rather, it weakened the continent’s preventive capacity and deprived the AU of early-action and constructive support mechanisms.
The Minister emphasised that Sudan, as a founding member of the African Union, has remained open to African solutions and cooperative with regional and international efforts despite the war. He also pointed to the return of state institutions to the national capital and the resumption of administrative functions, signalling the beginning of a new phase requiring supportive African engagement rather than political exclusion. At its core, this messaging seeks to reposition Sudan within the African sphere through the lens of recovery and reconstruction.
Why the Water Sector Is the Smartest Entry Point
This diplomatic discourse intersects directly with the declaration of Africa Water Sustainability Year 2026 and the “Mission Water” initiative, positioning the water sector as one of the most effective channels for translating diplomacy into tangible impact. Water directly affects citizens’ daily lives, public health, agricultural production, employment opportunities, and social stability. It therefore represents a rare convergence point between humanitarian, economic, and political dimensions.
In Sudan’s case, the water, irrigation, and sanitation sector forms the backbone of any economic and social recovery process—particularly amid large-scale displacement, damaged infrastructure, and deteriorating basic services. Investment in this sector offers a rapid, measurable impact while simultaneously laying the foundation for long-term sustainable development.
What Does the Africa Water Sustainability Year Mean in Practical Terms for Sudan?
First: Reordering sectoral priorities through an approach that combines rapid, high-impact interventions with long-term sustainable investments. This includes restoring water treatment plants in affected cities, securing supply for health and educational facilities, reducing water losses, expanding storage and rainwater harvesting, and linking supply systems to renewable energy wherever feasible.
Second: Updating policies and legislation by moving from emergency-driven management to stable sectoral governance. This requires separating regulatory, operational, and financing functions; adopting progressive and equitable tariff structures with targeted support for vulnerable groups; and implementing transparent procurement systems to strengthen partner and donor confidence.
Third: Leveraging Sudan’s national expertise and historical experience in irrigation, dams, and water harvesting.
In centralised irrigation systems, reform must focus on modernising management, operations, and maintenance; strengthening farmers’ associations; and improving distribution efficiency and measurement.
In decentralised irrigation, supporting farmers through small financing packages for efficient pumps, solar energy solutions, and modern irrigation technologies is critical.
In dam management, emphasis should be placed on dam safety, flood and drought risk management, early warning systems, and flexible reservoir operations.
In rural areas, water harvesting technologies remain among the fastest-impact interventions—particularly when integrated with WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) packages in host communities receiving displaced populations.
The Institutional Entry Point: From Intentions to Programmes
For Sudan to benefit practically from the Africa Water Sustainability Year and the “Mission Water” initiative, coordinated institutional action is essential. This could take the form of a high-level national joint committee comprising the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Irrigation and Agriculture, Finance and Economic Planning, and Humanitarian Affairs and International Cooperation—alongside experts, universities, and civil society actors.
The committee’s mandate would include developing a Sudan Water Compact, establishing a national project preparation facility, creating a clearly prioritised and financeable project pipeline within defined timelines, and linking water reconstruction to agriculture, health, employment, and peacebuilding efforts. Such integration would enhance sectoral coherence and increase prospects for international financing and support.
Conclusion: A Test of Institutional Will
Africa Water Sustainability Year 2026 is not a fleeting technical opportunity; it is a genuine test of Sudan’s capacity to transform diplomacy into development, and political discourse into credible, implementable programmes that earn partner confidence. The question is no longer whether Sudan possesses the resources or expertise. Rather, it is whether it possesses the institutional will to seize this continental and international moment.
If Sudan effectively coordinates its diplomatic, technical, and financial instruments, this moment could serve as a gateway to repositioning the water sector—and, more broadly, to advancing reconstruction, peacebuilding, and restoring Sudan’s natural place within Africa.

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