Mozambique presented its National Water Security Compact (ProÁguas) 2026–2036 at the 4th High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018–2028, taking place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The program was positioned as the country’s main instrument for mobilizing investment in the water and sanitation sector.
According to an official statement, the meeting, which began on Monday (25), brings together heads of state and government, United Nations representatives, international organizations and development partners to discuss global responses related to sustainable water resource management and to prepare for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
The opening session was chaired by the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, who called for stronger international cooperation, faster financing for the sector and deeper joint action to address challenges linked to water security, sanitation and climate resilience.
Mozambique is represented at the event by the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Fernando Rafael, on behalf of Prime Minister Benvinda Levi.
In his intervention, the minister presented ProÁguas, recently launched by President Daniel Chapo, as a structuring tool to expand access to water and sanitation services and strengthen national capacity in water resource management. He explained that the program is being implemented alongside institutional reforms in the sector, under Law No. 9/2024 of June 7, which led to the creation of Águas de Moçambique and the Water Supply and Sanitation Investment and Heritage Fund (FIPAAS).
The plan aims to mobilize around USD 4.5 billion by 2036, with the goal of increasing national access to water supply from 62.6% to 75% and sanitation coverage from 38.2% to 60%. It also includes measures to reduce territorial inequalities and strengthen the country’s response capacity to climate-related events.
In terms of infrastructure, the program foresees the construction and rehabilitation of four large dams, 1,000 small dams and excavated reservoirs, as well as the installation of more than 300 water resource monitoring stations.
ProÁguas also includes the expansion of household water connections, improvements in sanitation infrastructure, and the strengthening of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions in more than 12,000 schools and hundreds of health facilities.
In water resource management, the objective is to increase national water storage capacity from 59.2 billion to 60 billion cubic meters, as well as implement 330 kilometers of flood protection levees, develop advanced hydrological models and expand early warning systems.
According to the minister, the program has already secured around USD 700 million in financing commitments, reflecting government and international partner engagement in delivering structural solutions for the sector.
The Mozambican delegation also includes the president of the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction, Luísa Meque, the National Director of Water Resources Management, Agostinho Vilanculos, as well as officials from the Ministries of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources and Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
Source: Diário Económico
