LIMCOM at Africa Water Investment Summit

Summary

At the summit, LIMCOM spotlighted one of its investment-ready initiative, “Limpopo Transboundary Ecosystem-Based Water Security & Climate Adaptation,” to potential funders and investors during a high-level matchmaking session.

LIMCOM successfully participated at the inaugural AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit held in Cape Town, South Africa on 13-15 August 2025.

At the summit, LIMCOM spotlighted one of its investment-ready initiative, the “Limpopo Transboundary Ecosystem-Based Water Security & Climate Adaptation,” project to potential funders and investors during a high-level matchmaking session.

Designed to enhance transboundary water security, ecosystem resilience, and socio-economic stability across the Limpopo River Basin, the project adopts a source-to-sea catchment management approach.

It integrates freshwater, land, and coastal systems to address climate change impacts holistically. Expected outcomes include:

• Improved rural livelihoods for over 2,500 families living within the basin
• Restoration and protection of approximately 15,000 hectares of critical ecosystems

Estimated at US$45 million, the project was jointly developed with the SADC-Groundwater Management Institute (GMI) and the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), reflecting strong regional collaboration and technical alignment.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said the meeting is a landmark moment not only for Africa, but for the global movement for access to safe water for all.

“We gather here as decision-makers, investors, financiers and champions at a time when the world faces a deepening water crisis,” President Ramaphosa said, adding that it is critical for the meeting to come with tangible results to address the challenges.

The summit among other issues:

• Endorsed a Summit Declaration that commits stakeholders to scale-up investments, improve governance and increase accountability in the water sector;
• Showcased a pipeline of 80 priority water investment projects from 38 countries;
• Facilitated matchmaking between governments, financiers and partners; and
• Positioned water at the highest levels of the global political and financial agenda from G20 and COP30 to the UN 2026 Water Conference and beyond.

More than 2,000 delegates attended the summit that that was convened by the Republic of South Africa, African Union Commission, AU-Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa and the African Union Development Agency – NEPAD.

The summit was hosted in the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, aligning with its priorities of rapid and inclusive economic growth, poverty and hunger eradication, and climate sustainability.