Launch Ceremony of PROÁGUAS: National Compact on Water Security 2026–2036

Maputo, Mozambique - The African Union has declared 2026 as the African Year of Water and Sanitation, placing the sector at the centre of the implementation of Agenda 2063 and Africa’s vision for a prosperous, resilient and sustainable continent.

In alignment with this vision, Mozambique launched PROÁGUAS 2026–2036 on 18 May 2026, under the leadership of the President of the Republic. The 10-year WASH and Water Resources Management investment programme marks an important step in the country’s efforts to strengthen water security and expand access to sanitation. The high-level event reaffirmed Mozambique’s commitment to investing in water and sanitation as drivers of health, human dignity, social stability, economic productivity and sustainable development.

The President highlighted that “PROÁGUAS represents the most comprehensive, structured and ambitious national platform for the transformation of the water, sanitation and water resources sector, serving as an integrated planning and investment mobilization instrument for the next decade.”

PROÁGUAS is structured around five pillars:

• Strengthening policies, institutions and regulatory mechanisms.
• Strengthening water resources management and climate resilience.
• Expanding access to water supply and sanitation services.
• Improving operational efficiency and service quality.
• Promoting private sector participation and sustainable financing.

For children, access to safe drinking water and sanitation is not only a basic right. It is fundamental to health, nutrition, learning, dignity and protection. Expanding water supply systems in rural areas, eliminating open defecation, and strengthening WASH services in schools and health facilities could significantly reduce preventable diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera, which continue to disproportionately affect children.

UNICEF particularly welcomes the Compact’s ambition to achieve universal WASH coverage in schools and health facilities by 2036. This is essential to ensure safe and dignified learning environments, especially for girls, and quality health services for mothers and newborns.

Through PROÁGUAS, Mozambique aims to mobilize more than US$4.5 billion over the next 10 years. The President expressed appreciation to the African Union, the World Bank, UNICEF and other development partners for their continued support to Mozambique and to the WASH and water resources management sector.

The event brought together high-level government representatives from national and decentralized levels, development and cooperation partners, the private sector, academia, civil society organizations and the media. UNICEF Representative Mary Louise Eagleton attended alongside other cooperation partners.

Speaking on behalf of development and cooperation partners, British High Commissioner Helen Lewis reaffirmed partners’ commitment to support the implementation of PROÁGUAS through technical assistance, knowledge sharing, innovation and resource mobilization.

For PROÁGUAS to achieve its intended results, it will be important to ensure strong coordination, effective leadership at decentralized level, data-driven and climate-resilient investments that prioritize the most vulnerable populations, and mechanisms that encourage strong private sector participation.