DATES: 08th - 10th October 2026.
Background and Justification:
Africa is facing a convergence of climate and governance crises that make the AU Theme of the Year 2026 “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063” both urgent and deeply relevant. The evidence from across the continent shows that droughts, floods, and water scarcity are not isolated events but recurring challenges that undermine human rights, development, and peace.Access to safe water and sanitation remains one of the most pressing development challenges in Africa in 2026. Despite global progress, the continent continues to lag behind, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing the greatest burden. According to the UN World Water Development Report 2026, only 24% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa has access to safely managed drinking water, while less than 47% have basic sanitation services. This leaves over 432 million people exposed to unsafe water sources and inadequate sanitation facilities, perpetuating cycles of poverty, disease, and inequality.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, about 1 in 3 people still lack access to basic drinking water services while about 2 in 3 lack access to sanitation services. The situation is particularly dire in rural areas, where nearly half of the population lack clean water and three-quarters lack sanitation. Africa cannot achieve sustained economic growth while millions lack access to safe water and sanitation. Yet WASH remains underfunded and politically sidelined.Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have been more acutely impacted by the WASH crisis. Barely half of schools and healthcare facilities in the sub-region have access to basic water and sanitation. This is not to mention the gaps in access for households and industries.
If we carry on with business as usual, it is projected that 345million people in the sub-region will lack access to basic water services by 2030, 60 million more than from 2022. Inaction will also lead to 551 million people lacking access to sanitation by 2030, 90 million more than 2022. The WASH crisis will not be solved by drilling more boreholes alone. We must reform our systems, strengthen our utilities and crowd in private capital or risk stalling Africa’s transformation.
Between 26th February and 4th March 2026, Africa faced intensifying climate extremes under ongoing La Niña conditions. While flooding persisted across parts of southern Africa, drought and abnormal dryness deepened in Angola and other regions.
In North Africa, about 90% of the population has access to basic drinking water, but sanitation coverage remains uneven, especially in rural Sudan and Mauritania.
In West Africa, urban centers such as Lagos (Nigeria) and Accra (Ghana) have improved infrastructure, yet rural communities in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia continue to struggle, with less than 50% of households having access to improved sanitation.
In West and Central Africa, torrential rains between October 2024 and May 2025 triggered catastrophic floods across 16 countries, affecting 6.8 million people and destroying critical infrastructure during the agricultural season The 2025 Africa Sustainable Development Report noted that while Africa is making progress in 12 of the 17 SDGs, the pace is insufficient, with water insecurity and climate shocks among the biggest obstacles.
Gender inequalities continue to undermine global water security, disproportionately affecting women and girls. While they are often responsible for collecting and managing household water, they remain underrepresented in water governance, leadership and technical roles.
The United Nations World Water Development Report 2026: Water for All People Equal Rights and Opportunities highlights how unequal access to water and sanitation services impacts health, education, livelihoods and safety. Today, 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water, and women and girls spend an estimated 250 million hours every day collecting water.
The consequences of these gaps are profound. Women and girls spend millions of hours daily fetching water, a burden that limits their educational and economic opportunities. Youth are particularly vulnerable, as inadequate sanitation in schools leads to absenteeism, especially among girls during menstruation. Health risks are widespread, with waterborne diseases contributing to high mortality rates among children. Climate change further compounds these challenges, intensifying droughts and floods that disrupt already fragile systems.
Beyond climate, Africa continues to grapple with governance challenges that exacerbate these crises. Restrictions on civic space, unconstitutional changes of government, and corrupt elections weaken accountability and prevent effective responses to disasters. Without democratic integrity and strong institutions, resources are mismanaged, conflicts are fueled, and vulnerable populations are left behind.
The statistics and case studies from across Africa underscore why the AU’s 2026 theme is timely. Water and sanitation are not merely technical issues; they are deeply political, human rights concerns and deeply rooted in the realization of Aspiration 1 of the African Union's Agenda 2063. Addressing them requires inclusive governance, regional cooperation, and strong civil society engagement. The NGOs Forum provide a critical platform for African voices to deliberate on these challenges, share experiences, and propose solutions that uphold dignity and advance sustainable development.
The NGOs Forum preceding the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will build upon the outcomes of the previous Forum, ensuring continuity in civil society engagement.
OBJECTIVE & THEMATIC FOCUS
OBJECTIVE
1. Amplify Voices: Elevate the perspectives of communities most affected by water insecurity, climate disasters, and human rights violations.
2. Promote Accountability: Strengthen civil society’s role in holding governments and institutions accountable for resource management, democratic integrity, and respect for rights.
3. Foster Collaboration: Create a space for NGOs across Africa to share experiences, strategies, and innovations in addressing interconnected challenges.
4. Influence Policy: Develop recommendations that inform AU member states, regional bodies, and international partners on rights-based approaches to water, governance, and peace.
5. Build Solidarity: Reinforce the collective strength of African civil society in resisting shrinking civic space and advancing inclusive development.
THEMATIC FOCUS: Consequently, the Forum will also deliberate on the following sub-themes;
1. Water, Sanitation, and the Right to Development:
Anchored in the AU Theme of the Year 2026, this sub-theme emphasizes water and sanitation as fundamental human rights and essential for achieving Agenda 2063. It highlights the intersection of water insecurity with poverty, education, health, and gender inequality, while underscoring the role of NGOs in advocating for equitable access, accountability, and community-driven solutions.
2. Civic Space, Governance, and Democratic Integrity:
This sub-theme combines civic space, freedom of expression, digital rights, and unconstitutional changes of government. It addresses how restrictions on civic freedoms, corrupt elections, and shrinking digital rights undermine democracy and weaken civil society’s ability to demand accountability. NGOs are called to defend civic space, monitor elections, and ensure that governance structures uphold human rights and democratic integrity.
3. Natural Resources, Environmental Justice, and Climate-Induced Migration:
Here, the focus is on Africa’s wealth of natural resources and the environmental challenges tied to their mismanagement. It integrates issues of ecological justice, climate change, and migration, showing how floods, droughts, and resource exploitation displace millions and threaten livelihoods. NGOs play a vital role in advocating for transparency, sustainable resource governance, and regional frameworks to protect displaced populations.
4. Peace, Security, and Human Rights:
This sub-theme highlights the link between resource scarcity, governance failures, and conflict in regions such as the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and Great Lakes. It emphasizes the need to integrate human rights into peacebuilding strategies and to address root causes of insecurity, including climate stress and migration. NGOs are positioned as key actors in promoting preventive measures, resilience, and inclusive peace processes.
5. Social Inclusion: Gender, Youth, and Cultural Rights:
This sub-theme brings together gender justice, youth empowerment, and indigenous knowledge. It underscores how women and youth are disproportionately affected by water scarcity, unemployment, and civic restrictions, while also recognizing the value of cultural rights and traditional practices in resource management. NGOs can showcase inclusive, community-led approaches that empower marginalized groups and integrate indigenous knowledge into sustainable development strategies.
PROPOSED TOPICS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Inaugural Panel: The African Charter at 45: Achievements, Challenges and the Future of Human Rights in Africa
• This inaugural panel will also serve as a special commemoration of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, highlighting its historic contribution to Africa’s human rights system and its continued relevance to contemporary challenges. It will reflect on achievements and gaps in implementation while setting the tone for the Forum’s broader discussions on human rights, democracy, civic space and inclusive development.
Proposed Panelists, , experts in:
• African Human Rights Law
• Regional Human Rights Mechanisms
• Constitutional law
• Women’s rights and civil society advocacy
Panel 1:
Shrinking Civic Space in Africa: Protecting Freedom of Expression, Association and Assembly
Growing restrictions on civic space pose significant challenges to democracy, human rights and meaningful citizen participation. Deliberations will examine restrictions affecting civil society organisations, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, while considering practical approaches to safeguarding civic freedoms and democratic participation.
Proposed Panelists, , experts in:
• Human Rights and Constitutional Law
• Freedom of expression, media
• Civil Society, Democracy and Governance
• and Strategic Litigation
Panel 2:
Water, Sanitation and Human Rights: Translating the AU Theme of 2026 into Action
In line with the AU Theme of the Year 2026, the Forum will examine sustainable water availability and safe sanitation through a human rights lens, recognising their importance to health, dignity, gender equality, environmental justice and inclusive development. The deliberations will explore how States, civil society and regional institutions can translate the continental commitment into practical and rights-based action, particularly for women, girls and vulnerable communities.
Proposed Panelists, , experts in:
• Water and Sanitation Governance
• Human Rights Law
• Women’s Rights
• Environmental and Climate Justice
• Public Health
• Natural Resource Governance
• and development policy
Panel 3:
From Restrictive Laws to Transnational Repression: Protecting Human Rights Defenders in Africa
The increasing use of restrictive legislation, administrative measures, surveillance and other forms of repression requires greater attention to the protection of human rights defenders, including those facing threats beyond their national borders. The discussion will explore legal and practical measures for strengthening the safety, resilience and enabling environment of human rights defenders and civil society.
Proposed Panelists, experts in:
• Human Rights Defenders
• NGO and Constitutional Law
• International Human Rights Law
• Digital Security
• Cybersecurity
• Strategic litigation and civil society.
Panel 4:
Conflict and Unconstitutional Changes of Government: Rethinking Peace, Security and Democratic Governance in Africa
Ongoing conflicts and the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government continue to undermine human rights, democratic institutions and stability across the continent. The deliberations will examine their underlying political and governance challenges, human rights consequences and opportunities for conflict prevention, constitutionalism, peacebuilding, accountability and democratic resilience.
Proposed panelists, experts in:
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Constitutional Law
• Governance and democracy
• Social Innovation Practitioners
• AU peace and security
• Mediation
• International humanitarian law and transitional justice.
Panel 5:
Gender, Youth, and Cultural Rights in Africa’s Future
The exchange will highlight the intersection of gender justice, youth empowerment, and cultural rights in shaping Africa’s development. Innovative approaches to leadership and advocacy will be showcased, alongside recognition of indigenous knowledge systems in resource governance.
Proposed Panelists:
• Gender equality advocates
• Youth empowerment leaders
• Cultural rights scholars
• and social innovation practitioners.
Status of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa
Special Interest Groups Discussions
Networking for Human Rights in Africa
Languages:
Participants:
VENUE
Expected Outcomes
- 1. A Common Civil Society Declaration (NGOs Statement): A unified statement reflecting NGO perspectives on water, sanitation, governance, and human rights, to be presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
- 2. Strengthened Networks: Enhanced collaboration among NGOs across regions, fostering solidarity and joint advocacy on shared challenges such as climate change, civic space, and governance.
- 3. Capacity Building: Improved knowledge and strategies among NGOs for addressing complex issues like climate-induced migration, gendered impacts of water scarcity, and digital rights.
- 4. Visibility of Human Rights Issues: Greater awareness of ongoing violations from restrictions on civic space to unconstitutional changes of government and their intersection with resource governance.
- 5. Resolutions, Recommendations, and Documentation: A comprehensive report summarizing the discussions, key findings, and recommendations from the forums, including the adoption of resolutions and recommendations for onward submission to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) for consideration during its 87th Ordinary Session.
Visa:
Accommodation:
REGISTRATION
PANEL FEES
Kindly complete the panel request form below no later than Friday, 18th September, 2026. Please note that the African Centre is not obliged to receive and process panel requests received after the deadline. Partners are required to contribute the amount US$300.00 (three hundred US Dollars) for all approved requests as their contribution towards the organization of the NGOs Forum.
Please note that for panel requests to be considered by the Steering Committee of the NGOs Forum, all requests must be framed around the theme of the Forum.
Side Event
Kindly complete the Side Event request form below no later than Friday, 18th September 2026. Please note that the African Centre is not obliged to receive and process Side Event requests received after the deadline. Partners are required to contribute the amount US$500.00 (Five Hundred US Dollars) for all approved requests as their contribution towards the organization of the NGOs Forum.
Administrative Fees for side events:
However, if the African Centre is informed of the organization of the side event only for its information, then the Partner would not be required to pay the administrative fee.
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