RECLAIMING AFRICA'S WATER FUTURE: PUBLIC WATER FOR ALL!

Join thousands of water rights advocates, women-led community groups, and utility workers from 12–16 October as we present the Pan-African Public Water Manifesto.

Continental Briefing Selector

Lagos Mobilization: Harnessing metropolitan unity to confront corporate privatization structures and demand immediate infrastructure reinvestment.

Dakar-Lagos Corridor Action: Aligning cross-regional policy agendas to ensure clean, sovereign municipal water access across sovereign boundaries.

Assembly at Nnimmo Bassey Hall: Convening civil leaders and environmental defenders to formally ratify the Pan-African Public Water Manifesto.

12–16 October, 2026

Official Summit Schedule

Nnimmo Bassey Hall

Port Harcourt, Nigeria

REGISTRATION COUNTDOWN

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PAN-AFRICAN COALITION

Countries

65+

Organizations

01. About the Our Water, Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC)

Our Right, Our Water: Standing With Communities

Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC) is a pan-African movement dedicated to defending the human right to water across the continent. We are a network of grassroot organisations, community movements, activists, trade unions, and civil society groups united by the belief that access to clean, affordable water is a fundamental right, not a commodity for profit.

Corporate-driven water privatization models routinely prioritize corporate profits over community access, leaving peri-urban and rural families facing soaring tariffs and dry taps. Through empirical research, community advocacy, and direct coalition building, OWORAC works tirelessly to keep Africa’s water resources in public hands.

Empirical Evidence from the 2026 Continental Audit

0 %

Of reviewed Sub-Saharan water PPP contracts failed to meet peri-urban and rural household connection targets over 10 years.

3.2x

More low-income household connections delivered per public dollar via Public-Public Partnerships (PuPs) vs. commercial concessions.

Source: OWORAC & CAPPA Africa Research

Pan-African Coalition Chapters

West Africa · Lead Hubs: Lagos, Nigeria & Accra, Ghana · 24 Member Orgs

Halting PPP Concessions & Rebuilding Municipal Waterworks

Our West African coalition partners are driving systemic change by organizing municipal town halls, and mobilizing public campaigns against predatory Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Our campaigns focus on ensuring public control of water utilities, opposing market-driven policies that prioritise profits over people, and exposing the harmful impacts of water privatisation.

Documented Grassroots Outcome:

Successfully stalled the commercial concession frameworks in three municipal districts, returning oversight directly to elected local water boards.

Active National Chapters: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, South Africa

19 Active Campaigns

Community Water Monitoring · ACA Cameroon

Community Water Parliaments in Action

Local residents and municipal water workers conduct joint audits of public standpipes and neighbourhood water quality to counter privatization narratives.

Popular Education · Douala & Accra

African Center for Advocacy Townhall

Community delegates training on municipal water budget tracking and human rights law.

Policy Forum · Accra, Ghana

World Water Day National Stakeholders Forum

Trade unionists and civil society leaders presenting the Public-Public Partnership blueprint.

Youth Mobilisation · Regional Schools Accra

Next-Generation Water Defenders Assembly

Students and educators organizing to protect school water access from commercial metering.

Report: Africa Must Rise & Resist Water Privatization

A deep dive into the threats of the water industry taking over systems across Africa and the ways that people have successfully fought back.

Water Justice Unfiltered: The OWORAC Podcast

Dive deep into the fight against water privatisation across Africa. Hear from activists, experts, and community leaders as they share stories, insights, and strategies for securing public water for all.

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