Interview: Water, sanitation pillars of economic competitiveness – CAMWATER DG.

Dr Moussa, who is current AfWASA boss, in an interview granted economic French-language newspaper, Défis Actuels, reiterated that water security is inseparable from security itself as investing in water, strengthening governance, and promoting regional dialogue directly contribute to the stability of the continent.

His outing zooms on the gains of the just ended solutions-oriented AfWASA Congress in Yaounde, its key resolutions and the commitments made by African stakeholders in addressing challenges in the sector in terms of financing prospects.

Dr Moussa also touched on the gains of the Congress to CAMWATER, Cameroon's strategic role, and priority projects for ensuring sustainable access to water and sanitation in Africa; with emphasis that the continent no longer wants to just diagnose its problems but to produce and share its solutions. Full excerpts below 

Mr. President, the 23rd International Congress of AfWASA has just ended in Yaounde. What is your view of these four days of work?

Above all, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction, but also a heightened sense of responsibility. For four days, Yaounde was the African capital of strategic thinking on water and sanitation. This Congress was not just a simple institutional meeting. It was designed to be a space for solutions, innovation, and concrete commitment. The discussions were rich, sometimes demanding, but always action-oriented. This is exactly what our continent needs today.

The chosen theme, “Water and Sanitation for All: Strong Action for Africa”, was ambitious. Did it find real substance?

Absolutely. This theme was not a slogan. It served as a guiding thread for all the work. The six main themes of the Congress covered the entire value chain: from resource protection to user services, including governance, financing, research, and innovation. The message is clear: we no longer have the luxury of repetitive diagnoses. Solutions exist. What is needed now are courageous decisions and rapid implementation.

So, what are the key lessons to be learned from these six main areas?

The first lesson is that sustainability starts at source. Without integrated water resource management, watershed protection, and anticipation of the effects of climate change, no system will be sustainable in the long term. The second is that service performance depends less on infrastructure than on the quality of management, human skills, and governance. Finally, sanitation can no longer remain the poor relation of the sector. Collection is no longer enough: these services must be treated, valorized, and integrated into a circular economy approach.

The Congress was presented as “solution-oriented”. How did it differ from previous editions in this respect?

The difference lies in the approach. We deliberately reduced the amount of general observations in favour of operational feedback, concrete tools, and replicable models. Each track had to answer a simple question: what works, in what context, and under what conditions? 

This focus brought together researchers, operators, local authorities, and investors around a common goal: transforming knowledge into action. This is a major development for the AfWASA.

The climate issue was omnipresent. Is Africa sufficiently equipped to face this challenge?

Africa is on the front line, even though it contributes very little to global emissions. Droughts, floods, and resource variability are putting pressure on our systems. The Congress showed that climate resilience must be integrated into infrastructure design, but also into the day-to-day management of services. This requires reliable data, modeling tools, and above all, long-term planning. We must move away from a reactive approach and toward one of anticipation.

Can we say that water and sanitation are now perceived as economic sectors in their own right?

Yes, and this is a crucial development. Long considered solely as social sectors, water and sanitation are now recognized as pillars of economic competitiveness. They determine the health of populations, the attractiveness of territories, industrial development, and food security. The Congress clearly showed that every dollar invested in water generates multiple returns in terms of growth, jobs, and social stability. This is a strong message to finance ministries and economic decision-makers.

The issue of financing keeps coming up. Where do we really stand?

Financing remains a critical issue. The needs are immense, but public resources are limited. Congress has confirmed the need to diversify mechanisms: concessional financing, public-private partnerships, local financing, and improving the financial performance of operators.

One point was made very clear: without improving bill collection and controlling losses, no model is viable. Financial credibility is a prerequisite for attracting investors.

Local authorities were very present, particularly through the Mayors' Forum. What message did you take away from this?

We take away a very strong message from this, namely that cities are now on the front line. Rapid urbanization, solid and liquid waste management, and non-collective sanitation are daily challenges for mayors. The experiences shared, particularly on participatory management and recycling, show that local solutions exist. But they require clear political support, adequate funding, and strong citizen mobilisation.

Local authorities seem to be calling for more responsibilities. Is the sector ready for this increased decentralisation?

Decentralisation is an opportunity, but it must be accompanied by support. Mayors have demonstrated their capacity for innovation and their detailed knowledge of local realities. 

However, this requires an effective transfer of powers, adequate financial resources, and constant technical support. The Congress showed that inter-municipal approaches and integrated projects offer very promising prospects, provided that the State fully plays its role as strategist and guarantor.

What role can the African private sector play in this transformation?

A decisive one. The African private sector is a source of innovation, tailored technical solutions, and investment capacity. The business forums and B2B meetings organised in Yaounde have shown growing interest in partnerships with public operators. But these partnerships must be balanced, transparent, and based on clear performance objectives. The challenge is not to privatize water, but to mobilize all available skills in the public interest.

Still on the subject of impact, what role do major African financial institutions play in this dynamic?

They play a structuring role. Beyond financing, they now produce strategic knowledge: sector diagnostics, performance analyses, support for reforms. This Congress has shown that the relationship between operators, States, and donors is evolving towards greater demands, but also greater partnership. This is a healthy development.

The Congress also gave prominence to women and young people. Why this emphasis?

Because inclusion is not a slogan, it is a prerequisite for performance. Women play a central role in water management at the household level, but remain underrepresented in technical and decision-making positions. 

As for young people, they are the drivers of innovation, particularly in the digital and climate fields. Excluding them means depriving ourselves of solutions. Empowering women and young people and giving them resources and visibility strengthens the sector's resilience.

Did innovation and digital technology really find their place in the debates?

Yes, very clearly. Artificial Intelligence, data analysis, and smart network management tools are no longer distant concepts. They are already being used to reduce losses, improve service quality, and optimize costs. The Congress demonstrated that Africa is not only a consumer of innovation, but also a producer of solutions adapted to its realities.

As Chief Executive Officer, CEO of CAMWATER, what did you take away from the Congress for Cameroon?

Cameroon learned a lot from this Congress. The technical visits showed concrete progress, but also the challenges that lie ahead. For CAMWATER, this reinforces our commitment to improving service quality, reducing losses, modernising our tools, and strengthening the skills of our teams. Sharing experiences with other African operators is extremely valuable.

What legacy do you want to leave as outgoing President of the AAEA Congress?

I want Yaounde to be remembered as a turning point. A moment when the AfWASA asserted its maturity and its role as a Pan-African platform for solutions. We have strengthened partnerships between operators, encouraged the sharing of expertise, and placed the issue of concrete action at the centre. Yaounde must not remain an event; Yaounde must become a movement.

The handover to your successor for the 2028 Congress was done in a spirit of continuity. A word about the future of AfWASA?

The AfWASA is a solid institution, supported by committed women and men. The transition is part of a dynamic of continuity and reinforcement. The next steps, notably Dakar 2028, will have to capitalize on the achievements of Yaoundé and go even further in operationalizing commitments.

Can we say that Africa is taking back control of its water agenda?

Yes, and that is one of the most encouraging signs to come out of this Congress. Africa no longer wants to just diagnose its problems. It wants to produce and share its solutions. This requires coherent public policies, efficient operators, balanced partnerships, and responsible governance.

What message would you send to African policymakers at the end of this Congress?

I would say this: water and sanitation are political issues in the noble sense of the term. They affect human dignity, public health, and social stability. Investing in this sector is not a burden, it is a lever for development and peace. The choices made today will determine the trajectory of our countries for decades to come.

Beyond the technical aspects, can we say that water has become an issue of sovereignty and stability in Africa?

Without a doubt. Water is a factor for peace or tension, depending on how it is managed. Transboundary resources, shared basins, and climate pressures require enhanced cooperation between States. The Congress reiterated that water security is inseparable from security itself. Investing in water, strengthening governance, and promoting regional dialogue directly contributes to the stability of the continent.

Any final words to conclude?

Water is more than a resource. It is a right, a factor of cohesion, and a driver of development. Yaounde has shown that Africa has the skills, ideas, and capacity to innovate. It is now up to us to transform these assets into concrete results for our populations. Only then will we be able to talk, without hesitation, about water and sanitation for all.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3706 of Tuesday February 17, 2026