Africa's water crisis needs more than funding—it requires skilled professionals. The 4th Biennale of Luanda highlighted this challenge.
Water access needs skilled workers
The expansion of clean water services in Africa requires not only funding but also trained professionals to operate and maintain the infrastructure. This was a key topic at the 4th Biennale of Luanda, held in Angola in October, where discussions focused on water governance and its role in conflict prevention and resolution across the continent.Expertise gaps identified in global report
A 2024-2025 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN-Water found that less than a third of surveyed countries believe they have enough trained staff in water and sanitation sectors. For clean drinking water, only 26 percent of countries reported sufficient personnel, and this number drops to 15 percent for sanitation.Training institutions fall short of needs
While more than 70 percent of surveyed countries have technical training institutions or universities offering courses related to water, sanitation, and hygiene, less than 20 percent believe these institutions can produce enough professionals to meet the sector’s growing demands.Funding announced for water projects
In September 2025, the World Bank announced a funding package of up to 1.58 billion dollars to improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in twelve countries across eastern and southern Africa. The initiative aims to benefit at least 30 million people, though the allocation for training and skill development in the sector remains unspecified.
