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.

Inaugural Panel: From Water Security to Human Security: Civil Society at the Heart of Africa’s Future

• This opening session will set the tone for the Forum by linking the AU Theme of the Year 2026 on water and sanitation to broader human security concerns. It will highlight how civil society is central to ensuring that resource governance, peace, and rights are addressed holistically.

Proposed Panelists:

• Water Policy Specialists

• Public Health Professionals

•  Climate Resilience Researchers

•  and Human Rights Advocates.

Panel 1: Safeguarding Civic Space and Freedom of Expression in Africa

The conversation will focus on the growing restrictions on civic space and digital freedoms, examining how these undermine advocacy and accountability. NGOs will share strategies for protecting activists, resisting censorship, and strengthening democratic participation.

Proposed Panelists:

• Legal Professionals on Constitutional Rights

• Digital Rights Activists

•  Media Freedom Specialists

•  and Civil Society Leaders

Panel 2: Natural Resources, Environmental Justice, and Economic Inequality: Strengthening the Protection of Natural Resources through Indigenous Community Governance and Community-Driven Development (CDWD)

Deliberations here will explore how mismanagement of Africa’s natural resources perpetuates inequality and conflict. Transparency, ecological justice, and community participation will be emphasized as key priorities for NGOs advocating for people-centered resource governance.

Proposed Panelists:

 Environmental Justice Advocates.

• Economists

•  Governance and Transparency Experts

•  and Community Development Practitioners

Panel 3: Peace, Security, and Unconstitutional Changes of Government

Attention will turn to the rise of coups, corrupt elections, and governance failures across Africa, and their impact on peace and stability. The dialogue will also examine how resource scarcity, particularly water, exacerbates tensions, and how civil society can strengthen democratic integrity and peacebuilding.

Proposed Panelists:

•  Peace and Conflict Resolution Specialists

•  Democracy and Governance Analysts

• Election Monitoring Experts

• and Regional Security Researchers

Panel 4: 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

Panel 5: The poor waste management as an obstacle to sanitation

Waste management in Africa is facing increasing pressure due to rapid urbanization and a sharp rise in waste production: The amount of municipal waste is expected to almost double between 2020 and 2050. However, only a minority of waste is properly collected and treated; around 36% of municipal waste is collected, compared to a much higher global average. Much of the waste ends up in open dumps, often without health and environmental controls, posing serious risks to public health and the environment.

Proposed Panelists:

• Local Government Authorities

• Environmental and Sanitation Agencies

• Civil Society Organizations

• Waste Management Service Providers

• Community Leaders

• and Public Health Experts