Addis Ababa, February 12, 2026 (FMC) – The African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Lerato Mataboge, highlighted Ethiopia’s supply of water to Djibouti as a practical example of regional cooperation in Africa, while underscoring the broader importance of self-financed infrastructure projects on the continent.
Speaking at a press conference on accelerating Agenda 2063, advancing digital transformation, and implementing the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), Mataboge cited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a landmark example of Africa’s ability to finance and deliver transformative infrastructure using domestic resources.
“The self-construction of the GERD is a great success that can serve as an example for Africans,” she said, urging countries across the continent to adopt similar approaches in financing priority infrastructure projects through local resources.
Mataboge noted that the rising global cost of capital is placing increasing pressure on African countries seeking to fund large-scale projects. “The cost of capital is increasing globally, and this is becoming a major challenge for Africa in financing infrastructure,” she said. She added that climate change is further tightening fiscal space, pointing to the impact of droughts and floods on infrastructure systems and national economies throughout 2026.
The Commissioner also highlighted shifting global strategic priorities, noting that beyond traditional minerals, water is emerging as a key asset for regional stability and development. In this regard, she revealed that the African Union’s 2026 theme will focus on water and sanitation, currently under discussion within the Union.
“Access to clean water and sanitation is indispensable to accelerate industrialization, operate factories efficiently, and build a healthy workforce,” she said.
Mataboge disclosed that 300 million people across Africa lack access to safe drinking water, while 780 million are without adequate sanitation services. She said closing the water investment gap will require an estimated 30 billion US dollars, noting that several programs are already underway to address the shortfall.
She underlined that narrowing Africa’s infrastructure gap demands sustained resource mobilization and long-term planning, citing Ethiopia’s construction of the GERD as a notable achievement in that regard. Beyond infrastructure financing, she stressed that continental integration should extend beyond trade in goods to include the exchange of strategic resources among African countries.
“It’s not just about trade of products,” she said. “It’s also trade of our own resources among ourselves for our own development.”