[May 28, 2026 Sululta]: Director General of the Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) participated as a Panellist at this year’s Africa Day 2026 celebration, which was held at AFLEX in Sululta, under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063’.
According to records, Mrs. Meseret Desta, Vice Chief of AFLEX, set the tone by highlighting in her opening speech the historical and future significance of Africa Day, and emphasizing that modern Pan-Africanism must move beyond symbolic unity toward practical connectivity across all dimensions. During the panel discussion, Dr. Gete Zeleke, representing WLRC, highlighted how large-scale water and energy infrastructure projects—particularly hydropower development and river basin investments— can serve as instruments of regional cooperation, trust-building, and sustainable development across Africa. Dr. Gete also stated that Africa’s water infrastructure remains at an early stage compared to global standards, positioning flagship projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as critical regional opportunities. He explained that this infrastructure not only expands access to affordable energy for countries including Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya, and Tanzania, but also improves river regulation for irrigation, hydropower, and navigation while significantly reducing sedimentation downstream.
Key recommendations also included introducing payment for ecosystem services (PES) mechanisms, whereby revenues from power sales could be directed toward upstream catchment management. Participants also highlighted the importance of establishing strong monitoring and evaluation systems, as well as encouraging contributions from riverine countries that benefit from shared energy infrastructure toward watershed conservation efforts.
Furthermore, Dr. Gete called for Ethiopian policy- and decision-makers and practitioners to further strengthen its role in Pan-African hydro-diplomacy by expanding water infrastructure development at all levels, accelerating catchment restoration efforts, improving regional energy connectivity, and advancing basin-wide data systems. Enhanced water monitoring and information-sharing systems were identified as essential tools for informed decision-making and cooperative governance.
The gathering brought together policymakers, experts, and institutional leaders to assess the continent’s progress in managing shared natural resources. Discussions throughout the day reinforced a growing consensus that continental integration is no longer a long-term aspiration but an immediate operational necessity requiring coordinated action across sectors and borders.
The event served as a high-level platform for reflection, dialogue, and strategic engagement on Africa’s shared development priorities, with a strong emphasis on sustainable water resources, sanitation systems, and continental cooperation under Agenda 2063. The Africa Day 2026 event ultimately reaffirmed the importance of integrated water governance, regional cooperation, and inclusive development approaches as central pillars of Africa’s transformation agenda.
Photo credit: AFLEX, Facebook page