42ND PRE‑SUMMIT CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS – GIMAC / AFRICAN UNIONTHEME: PROMOTING GENDER‑SENSITIVE WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Sub‑Theme: Water Points, Peace Points: Securing Access for Women, Girls, and Demobilized Persons in Post‑Conflict Zones
Prof. Jean de Dieu Désiré NTANGA NTITA, PhD
National Coordinator, P‑DDRCS – Democratic Republic of Congo
Haile Grand Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — 09 February 2026
Excellencies, Distinguished Partners,
Allow me to emphasize that in post‑conflict zones, access to water is not merely an infrastructure issue. It is a vital matter of peace, social cohesion, and gender justice. Without water, women and girls walk long distances, abandon school, and face risks of violence. Without water, demobilized combatants struggle to reintegrate, and communities remain fragile.
At the P‑DDRCS, we have learned that peace is not consolidated solely through disarmament. It is built through inclusive access to essential social services. In Kalemie, Tanganyika Province, a secured water point became a space for dialogue and reconciliation. Women‑led management committees ensured transparency and sustainability. Demobilized individuals regained dignity through meaningful work, while local economies flourished around the water point. Each dollar invested generated tangible social, economic, and political dividends.
These experiences demonstrate that water is a multiplier of impact: it reduces disease, stimulates local economies, eases tensions, and strengthens trust between communities and ex‑combatants. It is also a lever of equality: investing in water means investing in education, safety, and women’s leadership.
Yet risks remain. Without sustained financing, infrastructure deteriorates, tensions resurface, and hard‑won gains erode. This is why we urge donors to prioritize water in fragile zones. We invite you to:
- Ensure sustainable financing for gender‑sensitive water infrastructure.
- Support inclusive local governance, with active participation of women.
- Fund gender‑disaggregated data collection, enabling effective planning and accountability.
- Encourage regional integration of water policies, maximizing social and political returns.
Distinguished partners, investing in water is investing in peace. It transforms a vital need into a driver of dignity and prosperity. Together, let us turn water points into points of peace for Africa’s future.
Thank you.
Cell Communication P-DDRCS
